Former Thunder fan could prove to be one of biggest threats to OKC in 2024-25

The OKC Thunder have established themselves as one of the most exciting franchises since arriving in Loud City in 2008.

From the early days of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden to the modern-era run by the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, Sam Presti and company have regularly pieced together squads that have garnered widespread attention and created a wildly devoted fan base.

Some of these faithful followers from the younger generation now find themselves in the NBA, regularly squaring off against their once beloved franchise.

Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. recently revealed himself to be one of said individuals who grew up rooting for the Thunder, as he stated during a Wednesday appearance on Grind City Media's The Chris Vernon Show that he was a "huge Thunder fan" growing up and even during his early days in the association.

Ironically, he now serves as a top-dog on a Memphis team that could end up giving Oklahoma City a real run for their money in 2024-25.

Ex-Thunder fan, Jaren Jackson Jr. now a major threat to OKC out West

Coming into the new season, the Thunder are widely viewed as the favorite to represent the West in the 2025 NBA Finals. Following their 57-win, top-seeded finish in the conference just a year ago, this should come as no surprise.

However, as seen during their 2024 postseason run, accomplishing such a feat won't be easy, as there are plenty of other inter-conference foes who will serve as a serious challenger for the West Champion moniker, and an under-the-radar threat could realistically prove to be Jackson's Grizzlies.

Recency bias may have some forgetting that Memphis was viewed in the same vein as the Thunder currently are not two seasons ago. They were the up-and-coming young squad out West who, over a span of two years from 2021-22 to 2022-23, rattled off 107 total wins, claimed consecutive top-two seeds in the conference standings, and had advanced as far as the second round of the playoffs.

Unfortunately for them, however, their upward trajectory took a steep drop in 2023-24, as it was a season marred by injuries and key player absences. Their tantalizing star core of Jackson, Desmond Bane, and, of course, Ja Morant were all hit with varying degrees of health-related ailments, with the latter being limited to just nine games of action en route to a 27-win finish.

Heading into this upcoming campaign, Memphis appears to be focused on re-establishing itself as a legitimate postseason threat and, with health on their side and accompanied by an enviable supporting cast headlined by Marcus Smart, GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and behemoth rookie big Zach Edey, there's no reason to believe they can't recapture their elite form from years past.

So while many are viewing teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves to be contending with the Thunder to be this coming year's Western Conference Champion, one mustn't sleep on former OKC lover, Jaren Jackson Jr. and his hungry Grizzlies.