Full Thunder All-Star break primer: Injury updates, second-half schedule, & more

Jump Right In:

1. First-half record and league-wide standing
2. Statistical strengths and weaknesses of Thunder
3. Key injuries
4. Thunder players participating in All-Star Weekend:
5. Post-All-Star break schedule for Thunder

The OKC Thunder have established themselves as the gold standard of the NBA through the first half of the 2024-25 season.

After finishing as the top seed out in the West standings just a year ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company are right back atop the conference totem pole with a sensational 44-10 record, eight wins ahead of the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies (36-18).

Now, following their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night, Oklahoma City can officially join the majority of the league in kicking back and relaxing for the next week, as the illustrious All-Star break has officially arrived.

Well.. almost everyone on the team can appreciate the annual gap in play.

From All-Star participants and injury reports to OKC's second-half-of-the-season outlook, let's take a look at all the things Thunder fans should be aware of heading into the All-Star break.

First-half record and league-wide standing

As noted, the Thunder head into the All-Star break boasting a 44-10 record. However, not only does this mark rank as the best in the Western Conference but, more impressive, they're tied for the best record in the entire league.

The top-five records currently on the season are as follows:

Statistical strengths and weaknesses of Thunder

Strengths

• Steals - 11.1 per game, No. 1 in NBA
• Free throw percentage - 82.1, No. 1
• Turnovers - 12.0 per game, No. 2
• Defensive rating - 104.2, No. 1
• Net rating - 13.3, No. 1 (in 2024-25 and of all time)

Weaknesses

• Free throw attempts - 19.5 per game, No. 29
• Personal fouls - 20.5 per game, No. 28
• Opponent's rebounds - 45.4 per game, No. 23
• Opponent second-chance points - 15.1 per game, No. 24

Key injuries

• Alex Caruso - Throughout his first season with the Thunder, the veteran has been plagued by several injuries and, as a result, has missed 21 games. He heads into the All-Star break with what is being considered left hip tightness.

• Cason Wallace - The reigning All-Rookie selectee has been sidelined since February 3 with a right shoulder strain.

• Ajay Mitchell - Rookie standout Ajay Mitchell has unfortunately been shelved since January 5 with a right great toe fracture. The ailment ultimately required surgery and is expected to keep him out of commission through mid-April.

• Ousmane Dieng - The power forward has been inactive since February 7 with a right soleus strain.

Thunder players participating in All-Star Weekend:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - For the third straight year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will find himself partaking in the NBA All-Star festivities. With his incredible stat line of 32.6 points, 6.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks on 52.7 percent shooting from the floor, along with the fact that he spearheads the charge for the top seed out West, the 26-year-old managed to earn the most votes out of all backcourt players in his respective conference.

• Jalen Williams - The third-year forward managed to earn the first All-Star nod of his career in 2024-25, and his selection was well deserved. Serving as the number two behind SGA, Jalen Williams finds himself dropping career-best averages of 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor. The wing has also proven to be a jack-of-all-trades type of talent during the year, as J-Dub has been tasked with slotting in at virtually every position (yes, including center) throughout Oklahoma City's injury-plagued campaign. Impressively enough, the 23-year-old managed to excel in any role coach Mark Daigneault has asked him to play.

** Cason Wallace would have been a participant in the Rising Stars Challenge had he not sustained a right shoulder strain that will keep him sidelined through the break

Post-All-Star break schedule for Thunder