The Western Conference continues to show that it’s the better, deeper conference. Eight teams in the West have 45+ wins.
As loaded and deep as the West is, one team has separated itself from the rest. The Oklahoma City Thunder have set a franchise record for the most wins in a season. They clinched the No.1 seed a couple of weeks ago and established a sixteen-game lead over the No.2 seed.
This Thunder squad has yet to make a deep playoff run, losing a tough series in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks in last year’s playoffs.
The Thunder have been left with a bad taste, as they have much to prove in this year’s playoffs.
The big question will be: Do the Thunder have enough experience, and will the players step up and rise to the occasion? Oklahoma City added two key veterans; however, only one player on this roster has championship experience. Whether the Thunder win the championship or not, this will be a valuable experience and another step in this young group’s quest for a championship.
If Oklahoma City wants to win the championship, here are four keys for the Thunder in winning the championship.
How the OKC Thunder Can Win the 2024-25 NBA Championship
The Play of The Co-Stars
Oklahoma City is coming off the best regular season in franchise history and one of the best regular seasons in NBA history.
Earning the No.1 seed usually puts a team in a much more favorable position. However, the West will be a juggernaut to navigate.
Whether Oklahoma City wins its first championship will ultimately depend on the play of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Everyone knows it starts with the one at the helm in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA will be SGA, as he has elevated himself to superstar status and showed during last year’s playoffs that he’s ready for the moment.
Now, the rest of the team wasn’t ready for the moment during last year’s playoffs.
Jalen Williams, in particular, had a disappointing series against Dallas. However, Williams has used that disappointment as fuel, elevating himself into a first-time All-Star and posting career-highs in points, assists, rebounds, and steals.
Much of the attention will be on Williams, the second All-Star and second offensive option.
As teams will place heavy schemes against SGA, Williams will need to step and play to his All-Star status.
Since arriving in Oklahoma City, Holmgren has had a transformative impact on this Thunder team.
Unfortunately, Holmgren’s hip injury has held back his progression on the offensive end and the opportunity to get accumulated playing with Isaiah Hartenstein.
While Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams will have the most pressure in leading the Thunder’s offense, Holmgren must be a reliable third option and provide elite defense — as the anchor.
If Holmgren can recapture his offensive form before the injury, it would elevate Oklahoma City’s chances of winning its first championship.
Turning Their Historical Defense Into Offense
The Thunder led the league in many defensive statistical categories throughout the regular season. They were first in DRTG (106.6), field goal percentage (43.6), 3-point percentage (34.2), paint points allowed (42.5), forced turnovers (17), steals (10.3), and deflections (21).
A huge catalyst for their historic defense is their ability to turn the opposing team over. They were first in points off turnovers (21.8), which is a clear recipe for success.
While turning teams over at a historic rate, Oklahoma City does a tremendous job of not turning the ball over, as they were first in taking care of the ball and only allowed (12.7) points off turnovers.
The Thunder continues to defy the odds for young teams.
They won the turnover battle in 67 out of 82 games. When winning the turnover battle, the Thunder were 55-12.
Creating turnovers generates an easy source of offense from their defense for the Thunder, and it also pushes the pace, which is an advantage for them. Winning the turnover battle masks deficiencies, and the playoffs come down to who does the best at exploiting opposing teams’ weaknesses.
Three-Point Shooting
Oklahoma City’s primary source of offense — is getting paint touches. The Thunder were second in the league in drives per game (54.5).
They generate many open three-point looks through drive-and-kick, which puts them sixth in the league in three-point percentage at 37.4 percent (10th in three-point attempts).
Despite three-point shooting struggles during the first three months, the Thunder ranked 20th at 34.5 percent. In 2025, they led the league in three-point percentage at 39.4 percent.
With Oklahoma City catching offensive rhythm and generating good quality three-point shots, the Thunder had 11 players shoot over 35 percent from three.
However, there are question marks regarding this team’s consistency in shooting.
Evidently, in their second-round loss to Dallas, they packed the paint, and the Thunder were unable to knock down threes consistently.
Oklahoma City are a year older and have more experience under their belt. With some personnel changes and the Thunder making three-point shooting a bigger priority. They’re better suited to handle how teams schemed against them last postseason.
Despite improvements from players such as Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Jaylin Williams, teams will dare and force them to beat them.
How will the Thunder adjust when teams go zone, throw box-and-ones, and trap SGA?
Obviously, it’s a make-or-miss league. Oklahoma City’s floor spacing will depend on how Holmgren, Dort, Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Kenrich Williams, and Jaylin Williams perform.
If the Thunder knock down the three consistently, they’ll have success.
Playing With Force
Oklahoma City’s main issue last season was rebounding due to their lack of size and physicality on the frontcourt.
The Thunder addressed that issue with the acquisition of Hartenstein. With the double bigs — Oklahoma City now has legitimate size in the frontcourt.
However, there have still been moments when the size and physicality of the front courts of Denver, Minnesota, Dallas, Milwaukee, and the Los Angeles Lakers have presented major issues for Oklahoma City.
When the Thunder do not go with the double-big lineup, they are small in the forward positions.
Their wing/forward rotations consist of Williams and Kenrich Williams, with Caruso and Dort defending up from their positions.
After experiencing the rigorousness of the playoffs’ physicality, the Thunder better understand the importance of playing with force and matching the intensity that the playoffs bring.
Preparation For The Playoffs
Throughout the season, Oklahoma City has proven that they can win in a variety of ways, as they’ve showcased in their franchise record-breaking 68 wins. This will be crucial as the Thunder will face adversity during the playoffs.
Most importantly, Mark Daigneault will have to be able to make necessary adjustments and have counters if the Thunder want to win their ever championship.
Main Image: Â Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
