Coming off a Game 7 victory to secure their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have not slowed down this season. The team has a 23-1 season and a point differential that would shatter the NBA record that was set by them just last year. This has all come as Jalen Williams, the Thunder’s second option, has missed all but 3 games so far. Currently, Oklahoma City is on pace for an unbelievable 78 win season.
This shift to dominance has been built on a patient approach that has overcome many difficult seasons, and decisions seen as questionable at the time. The leader behind the scenes of all this success is Thunder general manager Sam Presti. The 48 year old Massachusetts native has been with the organization since 2007 when the franchise was still in Seattle. He was responsible for originally drafting the trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden together. At the peak of this nucleus came a 2012 Finals appearance against the Heat. However, the Thunder largely flamed out in the playoffs and all three were gone by 2019.
A blockbuster trade in the 2019 offseason signaled a rebuild. The Thunder shipped off Paul George to the Clippers for a haul that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 5 first-round draft picks. Initially seen as a good trade for both teams, the narrative has transitioned into conversations on if this was the worst trade in NBA history from the Clippers perspective. Gilgeous-Alexander developed into a true superstar, winning the MVP award last season. The Thunder’s very rough years came as a blessing in disguise with their draft picks becoming highly valuable. With these picks the Thunder took full advantage, drafting Chet Holmgren with the 2nd pick in 2022 and Jalen Williams 12th in the same draft class.
The scariest part for the rest of the league is how young the Thunder still are. Shai is only 27 at the start of his prime, Holmgren is 23, Williams is 24. That isn’t it: Draft capital remains very high, with the Thunder set to receive 4 first round picks in the upcoming draft. Options include drafting to restock the roster with new talent or making a splash trade for another star player.
In a time where the NBA has had a different champion every year since 2018, and parity has been at the forefront of the league, the Thunder may represent a shift back to a dynasty. With a roster that is already dominant and a multitude of options for the future, the Thunder are in prime position to take control of the league for what could very easily be a decade.
