As the Oklahoma City Thunder continue their pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, skepticism remains about their NBA championship credentials.
Despite their strong performance, players and teams around the NBA still question their potential as serious title contenders.
NBA Players Don’t Fear Oklahoma City Thunder?
During a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Brian Windhorst shared insights into the league’s perception of the Thunder.
“I hear it implicitly from other people I talk to in the league. I hear it implicitly from players out there who are like, ‘Yeah, yeah will be fine on the same side of the bracket as OKC.’ They just don’t respect them,” Windhorst revealed.
This skepticism isn’t new in the NBA. Similar doubts have been cast in the past on teams like the Denver Nuggets, who were initially not seen as potential champions with Nikola Jokić as their star. However, Jokić led the Nuggets to a title and silenced the critics, proving that overcoming such hurdles is possible.
Despite a dominant regular season, the Boston Celtics also faced doubts last year due to their past playoff shortcomings. They responded with one of the most impressive playoff performances in NBA history to secure the championship.
Will the Oklahoma City Thunder Prove the NBA Wrong?
For the Thunder, criticisms often stem from last season’s performance. They secured the No. 1 seed but exited early in the playoffs, struggling particularly with scoring in the paint against larger opponents. This season, the Thunder have addressed some of these concerns by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster their size and have shown overall improvement.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a frontrunner in the MVP race, has been exceptional. He leads the NBA with an average of 32.7 points per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Jalen Williams, another key player for the Thunder, earned an All-Star nod and is averaging over 20 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game. Additionally, Chet Holmgren’s return from injury and his impact on both ends of the court could be pivotal in the postseason.
Despite the external doubts, the Thunder’s statistics make a strong case for their championship potential. Their net rating of 12.6 is projected to be the second-best in NBA history, underscoring their efficiency and dominance. With a roster featuring a superstar, an additional All-Star, and a rising star in Holmgren, Oklahoma City ticks all the boxes of a title favorite.
As the playoffs approach, the Thunder will have the opportunity to prove their detractors wrong and demonstrate that they can translate their regular-season success into a deep playoff run and possibly a championship.
