Three OKC Thunder players place in recent ESPN top player rankings

The NBA season is right around the corner, and with that, ESPN released their 14th iteration of their ' NBA Rankings '. Every year, ESPN gathers a group of experts and analysts to rank the hundreds of NBA players with thousands of possible outcomes.

For the 2024/25 NBA season, ESPN experts released their 100-51 player rankings, and three Oklahoma City Thunder members placed within that current list. Here are those players and what ESPN had to say about them:

88. Isaiah Hartenstein

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last season, Hartenstein entered the 2023/24 season being unranked on ESPN's list. However, after his tremendous play with the Knicks, especially during the playoffs, where he averaged nine points, eight rebounds and totaled 12 blocks in 13 playoff games, Hartenstein finds himself placed amongst the best. Now with OKC, Hartenstein looks to play a crucial role in the Thunder's defensive and rebounding department in hopes of helping the team make a deep playoff push.

85. Lu Dort

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Yet another Thunder player who went unranked starting the 2023/24 season, the five-year veteran with OKC finds himself as a very important piece to this young squad. Aside from his exceptional defense , Dort has developed into a spectacular offensive threat, shooting nearly 40% from three last season and contributing 11 points per game. As Dort enters this season, his tenacious isolation defense and offensive skill set will help propel the Thunder to new heights.

59. Alex Caruso

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The third straight player to initially be unranked last season to now being ranked for OKC, Alex Caruso will look to strengthen the Thunder's defensive prowess. With OKC being ranked the fourth best defense in the league and first in three-point shooting last season, Caruso is the perfect addition to help the Thunder succeed. From back-to-back defensive teams and DPOY mentions to a career 38% three-point shooter, Caruso enters his eighth NBA season in hopes of being a key piece towards winning a title.

MORE THUNDER CONTENT:

OKC Thunder Preseason: What to know against the Nuggets

ESPN NBA analyst predicts OKC Thunder to have third best offense in NBA

Why Jalen Williams could be frontrunner to win major NBA award