DraftKings released their projected win totals for the upcoming NBA season, and the reigning champs received plenty of respect. The line for the OKC Thunder is set at a monstrous 62.5 wins, which is only the eleventh time this century that a franchise cracked the 60-win preseason threshold.
The other ten are as follows:
- 2019 Warriors (62.5)
- 2018 Warriors (67.5)
- 2017 Warriors (66.5)
- 2014 Heat (61.5)
- 2013 Heat (60.5)
- 2013 Thunder (60.5)
- 2011 Heat (64.5)
- 2010 Lakers (62)
- 2010 Cavs (61.5)
- 2001 Lakers (61.5)
That’s a remarkable accomplishment for the Thunder, for the teams above were piloted by consensus top-15 players of all time in their primes, including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Eight of those ten teams reached the NBA Finals, and five went on to win the championship. The stats could be even more impressive if not for untimely injuries to the likes of Russell Westbrook back in 2013 and, most recently, Durant and Klay Thompson during the final year of their super-team run back in 2019.
With the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren running the show out in the Sooner State, it's quite possible that the Thunder are slated to become the ones to pick up the dynastic mantle once controlled by the Dubs.
Why the Thunder should secure a top seed this season
Oklahoma City notched 68 wins last regular season despite dealing with significant injuries. They only had Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein together for 20 contests, while Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams, and Ajay Mitchell missed a combined 109 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent greatness and the Thunder’s unparalleled depth helped the organization overcome these extended absences without missing a beat.
OKC is even deeper this season thanks to the exciting additions of rookies Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, and Brooks Barnhizer. Internal improvement should also be significant given the roster’s youth and work ethic, thus raising their floor and ceiling.
Additionally, elite defenses tend to win a ton of regular-season games. OKC led the association in defensive rating, and they likely remain the top unit barring catastrophic injuries.
Despite the Thunder’s bright outlook, winning 63 games is still no easy feat.
The Western Conference projects to be extremely difficult at the top and contains a slew of quality playoff teams. There’s no such thing as easy wins in the West outside of a couple of teams -– here's looking at you, Utah.
Champions that return the same cast also often enter cruise control and skip through the regular season, knowing that their squad is battle-tested. This may not apply to a hard-working team like the OKC Thunder, but it’s certainly a possibility that they get off to a slow start.
Overall, the Thunder faithful should view this win total in a favorable light whether the team winds up above or below the line. It’s a sign of deep respect for a squad that unjustifiably didn’t receive their flowers from many NBA fans.