Looking back at 4 bold preseason predictions about the 2023-24 OKC Thunder
By Alex Mcewen
![Oct 25, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), Oct 25, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2),](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5132,h_2886,x_0,y_399/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/157/01hvhpcyy9b136z6vd63.jpg)
Prediction No. 3) OKC will attempt and make more triples this season
This prediction went out on a serious limb because the Thunder have historically not been a great three-point shooting team. Head coach Mark Daigneault and shooting coach Chip Engelland both deserve serious credit for the squad's improved long-range accuracy and overall frequency.
This Oklahoma City squad smashed this prediction out of the park, as they not only moved into the top 10 in accuracy but also led the league in three-point percentage with a 38.9 percent clip.
Shai continues to impress 🤯#ThunderUp | @okcthunder | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/sZL33Ke1FW
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) April 11, 2024
This marks the first time in franchise history the team has placed first in 3-point shooting. It is also the highest percentage they have ever shot in a single season, eclipsing the previous mark of 37.7 percent set during the 2012-13 campaign 11 years ago.
As for the other part of this prediction, the Thunder launched more threes by a hair this season at 34.2, up from 34.1 in 2022-23.
They did not quite make it up to 40 attempts mark, however.
Still, only one team hit such a threshold this year and it was the league-leading Boston Celtics at a whopping 42.5 attempts per game.
It will be interesting moving on into the playoffs to see how coach Mark Daigneault and the Thunder approach the three-point game -- Will they shoot more, less, or roughly the same amount per game?