The Return of Loud City Culture: The Oklahoma City Thunder Continue to Find Success
Over the past year, the Oklahoma City Thunder has slowly but surely emerged in the western conference rankings as the team to watch in the upcoming years. After years of rebuilding and reshaping the roster, OKC has found its starting five that they’ll go to war with. This marks a turning point for a franchise that has exemplified resilience, setting the stage for a promising future in the NBA.
After a season of fluctuating wins and being at the bottom of the western conference standings, the Thunder took last year to make a statement and show people that it’d be a mistake to sleep on them. The franchise’s star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, not only ended the season with the most 30-point games in the 2022-2023 basketball season, but he made the All-Star team, first team All-NBA, and became most improved player of the year, opening eyes to what’s to come in the city of Oklahoma.
A Team Full of Young Stars
Soaring as the leader and face of the franchise, Shai added several accolades to his name and career over the last season. Quickly surging to become the fourth-highest scorer of the 2022-23 season and joining an elite group of NBA 75 legends with 45+ 30-point games in a single season, including NBA legends like Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and notably, former Thunder players Kevin Durant and James Harden. Not to mention his pivotal role in leading Team Canada to a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup. Shai is undeniably ready to ascend to the ranks of the league's top-tier players, all he has to do is show what he’s made of during the post season. And although they fell just one game short of the playoffs, the remarkable progress, untapped potential, and unrelenting hunger for victory within this young core are unmistakable. These qualities have ignited a sense of excitement among the fanbase about the team’s future, all while defying the doubters and naysayers. For the 2023-24 season so far, SGA is third in the league for points per game at 31.5 and is behind only Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic in the MVP race.
SGA wasn’t the only standout from last season; the rest of the starting lineup had their own breakthrough moments. Jalen Williams, in particular, showcased his immense talent in the latter half of the season, solidifying his spot as a front-runner for the Rookie of the Year title, and earning a well-deserved spot on the All-Star Rising Stars roster for the 2023 game and media recognition as well. Despite finishing as the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting, Jalen Williams left an inevitable mark on the league, ensuring that fans and peers alike recognized his name and the remarkable skills he brought to the court. In addition, he received the ‘Rookie of the Month’ honor twice and secured a place on the All-Rookie First Team, further cementing his status as one of the league’s most promising young talents. Williams is currently averaging 18.2 points on 54/44/83 shooting splits in the 23-23 season.
With Chet Holmgren back in the lineup after being sidelined last season due to an injury he sustained during a Pro-Am game, the Thunder officially have its starting lineup complete with Shai, Dort, JDub, Giddey, and the 7”1 rookie star, Chet. Despite the team’s struggles during the preseason, the potential and strides toward success were still prominent, giving the Thunder fanbase faith for the upcoming season. The most important part of the preseason was getting a sneak peek of the advanced ability and skills of Chet Holmgren after a year of rehabilitation. From his ambitious rebound to his impressive scoring, he did not disappoint. Holmgren not only kept up the pace of his game but he accelerated it going into the regular season, standing tall as he went up against some of the greatest players of the game. With his competitive edge and his risk taking on the floor, he has averaged 17.9 points per game with a 55.7 field goal percentage and 7.3 rebounds a game during the first half of the season, being an integral part of the teams rankings in the . Although he has big names in his rookie class to go up against like Wembanyama and Jacquez Jr., Chet has managed to keep his name up there as a possible candidate, if not a shoo-in winner, for Rookie of The Year.
On the defensive end, 6”4 guard, Lu Dort, shines, making it hard for his opponents to score on him with his lockdown defense. But his defense isn’t the only thing that keeps him on people’s radar. A defensive juggernaut with speed and offensive abilities is hard to come by, but Dort has all those traits and some more. While a lot of his impact on the court doesn’t show on a stat sheet, players know when they walk into the Paycom Center arena that they won’t be getting easy baskets because Dort will be there and ready to each shot hard to go in. Over the summer he helped his home team, Canada, on the defensive end alongside other Canadian NBA players such as RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, Dillon Brooks, Dwight Powell and most importantly, his teammate, Shai.
More than Basketball
This youthful team is not only leaving a mark on the basketball court but also off it. Shai’s influence extends beyond his exceptional basketball talents; his knack for blending distinct elements and crafting a one-of-a-kind style has not only kept him in the basketball spotlight but also made him a fashion trendsetter, consistently featured on everyone’s social media feeds and setting new fashion standards for fans and fashion gurus alike. If he’s not attending and walking at fashion shows during Paris Fashion Week, he’s stepping out to other prestigious fashion events such as the Met Gala to showcase himself as one of, if not the only, best dressed athletes in the game right now. His unique style and appearances has landed him several magazine features such as GQ and Flaunt Magazine and most recently, a feature in Kim Kardashian’s launch of her Skims’ mens collection.
Recently, the budding success of the team landed them a cover feature on SLAM magazine where fans can see small but intricate details that set the players apart fashion wise. Much like their games, their individual styles are distinct, but when brought together, they create a harmonious blend that perfectly captures the team’s essence.
Although their fashion tastes’ catches everyone’s attention due to how universal it is, The Thunder’s community service is something to rave about as well. The franchise has made substantial contributions to their local community, demonstrating their unwavering dedication to making a positive impact. From breaking ground a new basketball court at the Oklahoma City-County Health department to visiting firefighters at Station 14, the organization has made the community a top priority in their off court time. Their efforts extend beyond the arena, showcasing their commitment to the well-being of the people and places they call home. Genuine acts of kindness and unwavering dedication, exemplified by such contributions, not only develops a strong bond between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the local community but also solidify the determination of both the city and its government to do everything within their power to ensure the team's enduring presence for years to come. Endeavors such as a plan for the construction of a new state-of-the-art arena for the organization in Mustang, Oklahoma, reflect the collective commitment to keeping the Thunder in the city for the foreseeable future and beyond. And with the culture and pride that the team has brought to the capital of Oklahoma, the community’s vote to approve funding for the arena, safeguarding the Thunder’s placement in the city until 2025.
While the starting five is beyond talented, these players aren’t the only players with something to offer to this teams success. In the first two games of the season, Mark Daigneault and his coaching staff utilized their bench depth, even rotating 11 players in the first quarter of the first game against the Chicago Bulls. Over the span of the first half of the regular season, the Thunder has managed to rise in the ranks of the western conference, landing them as the second seed. With the pickups of international player Vasilije Micic, rookies Keynotae Johnson, and Cason Wallace paired with the experience of Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, Isaiah Joe and their insanely talented starting five, the sky is the limit for this new and improved Thunder team.
