5 Bold Predictions for the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2023-24 Season
By Alex Mcewen
![Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/a2d544c3cd0a50513927203d00b2ec7e0a313406196f048a2a15f5145607d0ef.jpg)
The OKC Thunder will be one of the top assist teams in the NBAA
Dating back to the 2013-14 season, the OKC Thunder has placed in the top 10 in assists only once, when they placed 10th in the 2015-16 season.
Since head coach Mark Daigneault took over in 2020-21, the OKC Thunder’s assists per game have increased each season, peaking last season at 24.4 assists per game, good for 21st in the association; it was the highest assists per game in franchise history.
This year, I expect the number will jump once more, and the team will once again crack the top 10 in helpers per contest.
Last season, the 10th-placed team in assists averaged 26 per game. It will not require a massive increase for the OKC Thunder to make the jump.
Giddey will get his fair share of helpers, but to be a truly great assists team, it will take a collective effort from everyone.
Daigneault does a job of making sure different players have an opportunity to bring the ball up the floor and run the offense, creating ample chances to rack up assists.
Another exciting facet will be Chet Holmgren, he and Giddey running pick and roll should be basketball poetry and generate plenty of assists.
This will not be exclusive to the above duo; Holmgren will be popular in the pick-and-roll in various combos.