The OKC Thunder have built one of the best young cores in the entire NBA, and the 2023-24 NBA season represents the most anticipated year since 2017 in Bricktown. As the NBA preseason tips off, the NBA conducted their annual “GM Survey,” asking executives around the association to answer a handful of questions and attempt to predict the season ahead.
This is a great tool to see how the league views specific teams, players, and coaches. While almost everyone in the Oklahoma City Thunder fanbase felt the team is trending in the right direction, the NBA GM Survey validated those feelings.
OKC Thunder are heading in the right direction with the latest NBA GM Survey results.
After a 16-win improvement a season ago, the question around this OKC Thunder team is, “What’s next?” while many expect another massive leap from this Thunder team, will they need time to gel? After all, the Thunder have constantly preached that progression is not always linear.
Still, with the amount of young talent on this team and the shocking (to the outside viewers) amount of depth Sam Presti has compiled along the way in this rebuild, the OKC Thunder seem primed for a strong 82-game season.
According to the GM survey, the Thunder are the number 1 team that will be most improved with 30% of the vote. Ahead of Houston, Dallas, Detroit, and Orlando. pic.twitter.com/0yooH7IyCG
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 10, 2023
According to the NBA General Managers, the OKC Thunder will be the most improved team in the NBA, earning 30 percent of the vote. They rank ahead of Houston, Dallas, Detroit, and Orlando. For a team that improved by 16 wins a year ago to a 40-42 record, it is safe to assume these executives think the OKC Thunder are in line for a massive leap.
However, with those expectations, it is still hard for everyone (including local media!) to nail down exactly how to predict this OKC season will go.
The NBA GM Survey gave votes to OKC as the most fun team to watch
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 10, 2023
OKC was tied for 2nd in “toughest to predict” this season
OKC received 73%(!) of the vote for “most promising young core” pic.twitter.com/vO8BnLnoP2
Ranking as the most fun team to watch, the OKC Thunder were also second in “toughest team to predict this season.” The only team harder to peg than the Thunder? The 76ers who still are unsure if James Harden will be on the team’s opening night roster.
The OKC Thunder were the overwhelming top dog for the “most promising young core” centered around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, pairing with Cason Wallace, Ousmane Dieng, and even Jaylin Williams. It will be tough to dethrone the Thunder in this category.
As the excitement around this season builds, it is great to see NBA decision-makers agree with OKC Thunder fans about the direction of this team. After a highly debated rebuild, the Thunder are coming out the other side smelling like roses.