Thunder’s Meteoric Rise, The Oklahoma City Thunder weren’t supposed to be here yet. Not in Year 3 of their rebuild. Not with the league’s youngest roster. Yet as the 2023-24 season reaches its midpoint, OKC sits firmly in the Western Conference’s top four, playing an electrifying brand of basketball that has the entire league buzzing. This isn’t just a feel-good story—it’s a masterclass in team building that’s rewriting the NBA’s developmental timeline.
In this 1,500+ word deep dive, we’ll explore:
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The statistical dominance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-caliber season
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How Chet Holmgren’s rookie campaign has transformed the franchise
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Sam Presti’s roster construction genius
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Why this team is built for sustainable success
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How far they can go in this year’s playoffs
By the Numbers: OKC’s Statistical Revolution
Team-Wide Improvements
| Category | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | NBA Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rating | 115.3 | 120.1 | 3rd |
| Defensive Rating | 114.4 | 110.8 | 5th |
| Net Rating | +0.9 | +9.3 | 2nd |
| Three-Point % | 35.6% | 39.1% | 2nd |
| Assist/Turnover Ratio | 1.78 | 2.15 | 1st |
According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Thunder are:
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1st in three-point efficiency
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1st in free throw percentage (83.4%)
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3rd in steals per game (8.4)
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5th in blocks per game (6.1)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: From All-Star to MVP Candidate
Statistical Leap Forward
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31.2 PPG (3rd in NBA)
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6.3 APG (career-high)
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2.3 SPG (1st among guards)
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64.3% TS (elite efficiency)
Advanced Metrics Dominance
| Metric | Value | NBA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| PER | 30.1 | 3rd |
| Win Shares | 8.2 | 2nd |
| Clutch PPG | 5.1 | 1st |
| Drives PPG | 18.3 | 1st |
Thunder’s Meteoric Rise, As noted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, “SGA isn’t just having an All-NBA season—he’s putting together one of the most efficient high-volume scoring campaigns we’ve seen from a guard in the analytics era.”
Chet Holmgren: The Rookie Who Changed Everything
Two-Way Impact
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17.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 BPG
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40.3% from three on 4.1 attempts
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+12.3 on-court net rating
Defensive Transformation
With Holmgren:
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OKC defense: 108.9 rating (equivalent to #1)
Without Holmgren: -
OKC defense: 114.1 rating (would rank 18th)
Sam Presti’s Roster Construction Masterclass
The Core Pieces
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 years old)
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Chet Holmgren (21)
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Jalen Williams (22)
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Josh Giddey (21)
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Cason Wallace (20)
Asset Stockpile
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15 first-round picks through 2030
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22 second-round picks in same span
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$30M+ in cap space this summer
Why This Team is Built for Long-Term Success
Sustainable Advantages
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Elite Shooting: Five rotation players shooting 38%+ from three
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Positionless Defense: Switchable 1-through-5 lineup versatility
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Financial Flexibility: No bad contracts, all core pieces locked up
Development Pipeline
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G League affiliate (Blue) running identical systems
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NBA’s largest analytics staff
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Cutting-edge sports science program
Playoff Outlook: How Far Can They Go?
NBA Newsz’s Projection Model gives OKC:
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88% chance to make playoffs
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42% chance to reach second round
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11% chance to make Conference Finals
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3% chance to win championship
Read More: The Warriors’ Decline: Can Golden State Salvage Their Season or Is the Dynasty Over?
Conclusion: The Future is Now in OKC
Thunder’s Meteoric Rise, The Thunder aren’t just ahead of schedule—they’re forcing us to reconsider how quickly a rebuild can produce legitimate contention. With a transcendent superstar in SGA, a future DPOY candidate in Holmgren, and the league’s deepest war chest of assets, Oklahoma City has built something truly special. The scariest part? They’re just getting started.
For daily Thunder coverage and draft analysis, visit NBA Newsz.
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