Coming into the 2023-24 NBA season, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been thought of to be a proficient younger group on the rise within the league, however many believed this younger squad was nonetheless just a few years away from being a drive to be reckoned with, not to mention a reliable title contender.
Though the group had been written off for being too younger and inexperienced earlier than final season, the Thunder proved everybody unsuitable, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turning into an NBA MVP candidate and Oklahoma Metropolis dominating the competitors within the Western Convention from begin to end.
The Thunder appear to be the instance of what a group within the fashionable can appear like when constructed from the bottom up and makes sensible strikes in trades in addition to the NBA Draft, as this group seems to be arrange for achievement for years to come back.
Regardless of falling quick in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks within the second spherical of the NBA playoffs, the Thunder have a vibrant future and have seen their championship odds enhance drastically from final yr to now, in response to ESPN BET.
The distinction a yr makes. 👏
This time final yr the Thunder have been +7500 to win a title, this yr they’re tied for the second shortest odds to win a championship. 😱 pic.twitter.com/AhfS8DQsVD
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) July 3, 2024
So long as this group can keep wholesome and common supervisor Sam Presti continues to make all the proper strikes, the Thunder may very well be a championship contender within the West for the foreseeable future, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren main the way in which.
Though the competitors within the West is extra aggressive than it has been in current reminiscence, Oklahoma Metropolis might need what it takes to endure and prevail within the very close to future.