ESPN NBA analyst predicts OKC Thunder to have third best offense in NBA

Brody Bitters

•
ESPN NBA analyst predicts OKC Thunder to have third best offense in NBA image

With the official NBA season just a little under two weeks away, many experts and analysts are predicting how good certain teams will be when the first round of games get underway. Over the entire offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been a team that has seen a ton of praise when it comes to predictions, and they're not done yet.

On the show 'NBA on ESPN', head analyst for the program Brian Windhorst was asked who would be the top offenses heading into the 2024/25 NBA season, and he placed the OKC Thunder as the third best offensive team.

 

 

Windhorst would go on to explain that not only would the Thunder be a top offense, but they would be considered a top defensive team in the league as well. With MVP-caliber talent in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, a massive depth chart headed by Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, and the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, Windhorst believes OKC will be an extremely efficient and successful team.

The two teams, however, that placed above the Thunder were the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics, While it is understandable why the reigning champs are placed first, there may be an argument for the Thunder replacing the Pacers for that second spot.

Should the Thunder be ranked higher on the list?

While the Pacers ended last season above the Thunder with a total offensive rating of 121.0 to OKC's 119.5, the 2024/25 Thunder team is a different type of animal. With their acquisitions and increased development, the Thunder are going to be incredibly hard to stop.

For the Pacers, point guard Tyrese Haliburton is coming off of winning gold for the Olympic team and had little time to rest. Whereas many other players were either able to rest the whole offseason or did not make it as far in the Olympics. That could drastically impact the Pacers' offensive performance, as Haliburton is the driving force of that Indiana team.

At the end of the day, this question and the overall ranking will not be answered until the end of this coming season, so fans should not be too agitated about the placement of teams. For Thunder fans specifically, they should feel incredibly excited for their team and the potential they hold.

 

MORE THUNDER CONTENT:

OKC Thunder defeat New Zealand Breakers; Young players shine once again

Why Jalen Williams could be frontrunner to win major NBA award

NBA Basketball Power Index projects OKC Thunder to be a powerhouse within the league

Brody Bitters

Brody Bitters Photo

Brody Bitters is a graduate from Butler University, where he studied Sports Media and Strategic Communications for four years. Brody previously worked as a sports reporter in Zanesville, Ohio, where he covered all things athletics from high school football, baseball, and track & field to the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Brody played basketball, football, and soccer and is a diehard Buckeye. Moreover, Brody is a massive fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Broncos, which appear random on paper, but have very specific and unique backstories.