As the 2023-24 NBA regular season draws near, the excitement surrounding the OKC Thunder continues to build. This is the most anticipated season since 2017 in Bricktown. With a bonafide superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the runner-up in Rookie of the Year Jalen Williams, a player in Josh Giddey who already has an elite trait, and the highest ceiling of these prospects in Chet Holmgren set to make his debut; this should be a fun season in Oklahoma City.
The OKC Thunder made a 16-win improvement a year ago, earning a bid to the NBA Play-in Tournament and falling a game shy of the NBA Playoffs. No one expected that leap from the Thunder, especially after Chet Holmgren was sidelined for the season last August.
Now, the rest of the NBA, and even the General Managers around the League, have crowed the OKC Thunder as having the best young core in the NBA. This led an ESPN Insider to give the Thunder historic praise.
ESPN Insider praises OKC Thunder, which would be historic if it comes true.
On ESPN’s NBA Today show on Wednesday, ESPN Insider Adrian Wojnarowski gave the OKC Thunder a ton of props following their preseason opener. Wojnarowski is the most plugged-in person in the NBA, so most assume his opinions are shaped by things he has heard high-ranking people within the league say.
Woj thinks the Thunder have 4 potential All-Stars down the road, and Chet Holmgren could be an MVP player… pic.twitter.com/GzPbbYBuzW
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 11, 2023
Adrian Wojnarowski said, “I think team-wise, Oklahoma City, I think there are four potential All-Stars in that lineup down the road, and maybe Holmgren is a potential MVP candidate, certainly.”
The OKC Thunder have already seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crack the All-Star and All-NBA teams. Gilgeous-Alexander also finished fifth in MVP voting a year ago. If Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, and Chet Holmgren also reach All-Star status, that would give them a historic core.
For Thunder fans, it is hard to shake the feeling of this young core rivaling the last go-around with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. While the OKC Thunder must prove it on the court, it certainly feels like the start of yet another historic run in Bricktown.