The Thunder had a good 2024 calendar year with plenty of accomplishments. However, they can still make plenty of improvements for 2025 and close out the 2024-2025 season on a high note. With only three more games left in 2024, Thunder fans are focusing on 2025 and what’s to come. They are hoping the 2025 season brings the Thunder their first title in franchise history if you don’t count the Seattle Supersonics one. With how this season has gone for the Thunder, as they sit at 24-5 and on pace for 67 wins, Thunder fans feel like 2025 could be the year they hold up the Larry O’Brien Trophy. However, there are still improvements the Thunder can still make in 2025. Before we discuss what those improvements are, let’s talk about some of the highlights from the 2024 season.
Thunder’s 2024 Review and Improvements They Can Make for 2025
What Went Right for The Thunder in 2024
The Thunder’s 2024 season has been very successful, and they have learned a lot through the year. They made the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-2020 season. In addition, they become the youngest one-seed ever in NBA history, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishing MVP-runner up. The Thunder advanced past the first round for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. These were all great achievements they had at the beginning of 2024. Unfortunately, they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Conference Semifinals. After their loss, they made two of the biggest splashes in the offseason by trading for Alex Caruso and signing Isaiah Hartenstein.
Building off of Last Season
Coming into the start of this season, they were the favorites to come out of the West. However, people didn’t know how the Thunder would handle the pressure of expectations, something this team hadn’t faced yet. Ultimately, the Thunder picked right back up from last season and seemed like they never skipped a beat. They have stormed out to a 24-5 record and are on pace to finish with their best record ever in franchise history. In addition, the Thunder have the number-one-ranked defense in the NBA and are on pace to have a historic defense. They have been doing this even with missing their defensive anchor in Chet Holmgren for the majority of the season.
Ultimately, team success isn’t the only thing that has defined the 2024 season for the Thunder; there has also been individual success as well. Shai is once again in the running for MVP and is on pace to have back-to-back-to-back years averaging 30 or more points per game. Jalen Williams is averaging career highs in every statistical category besides shooting percentages and is in discussion for the Most Improved Player award. Isaiah Hartenstein is averaging career numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. Alex Caruso just got a four-year 81 million dollar extension, which would be the most money he has ever earned in his career. Finally, Lu Dort is averaging career numbers in steals and blocks and could earn a spot on an All-Defensive team for the first time.
What Improvements Can Be Made for 2025
2024 has brought the Thunder a lot of team success and individual success. In addition, they have grown as a team and have learned plenty of lessons along the way. However, with the calenders turning to 2025 in five days, there are still plenty of improvements the Thunder can make. One of those improvements is something that is out of their control but needs to happen for them to achieve their goals in 2025. That is, the Thunder need to get healthy. They have had multiple players miss multiple games, whether you talk about Holmgren, who has missed 19 games and counting, to Caruso, who has missed nine games. The Thunder need to be healthy for the playoffs if they want the best shot of claiming the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Shooting Improvements and Offensive Improvements
There hasn’t been much that has gone wrong for the Thunder this season besides shooting struggles and offensive struggles. Last year, the Thunder led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage, however, with essentially the same roster, they are now at 19th. This is the number one thing that needs to improve for 2025. Players like Caruso, Isaiah Joe, and Cason Wallace need to get back to shooting 40% like they did last year. Mark Daigneault made an effort for the team to shoot more threes this year, and they have increased it by four attempts per game. However, that shouldn’t be enough to drastically impact the Thunder’s shooting percentage as it has this year.
The second thing that needs to improve is their offensive efficiency. Last year, the Thunder had a top-five offense in the NBA, and this season, they are outside the top five, ranking seventh in offensive rating. Furthermore, the Thunder have made strides in getting better on offense in the last couple of weeks but can still improve in that area. The Thunder especially needs to be better in the minutes that Shai isn’t on the floor. When he isn’t on the floor, it just seems like their offense looks completely different.
Notably, with Shai off the floor, the Thunder have an abysmal 101.9 offensive rating, which translates to the worst offensive rating in the league. Finally, the last improvement is more consistent help for Shai. There have been games where Shai gets plenty of help and other times where it’s not enough. This will have to be fixed come playoff time, as Shai receiving no help in the playoffs was a big reason why they lost to the Mavericks.
The Last Word
The Thunder have learned plenty of lessons and have grown as a team from the 2024 calendar year. However, there are still a couple of improvements they can still make when the calendar turns to 2025. The Thunder fixing these improvements will be essential in how the rest of their season will go. Ultimately, fixing these issues could be the deciding factor of whether or not they make the NBA Finals.
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