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Every Thunder mentioned on ESPN's awards predictions (and why they can win)

The Thunder are all over ESPN's latest predictions.

By Mark Nilon

Dec 14, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) walks to the bench with forwards Chet Holmgren (7) and Jalen Williams (8) and guard Luguentz Dort (second from right) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) walks to the bench with forwards Chet Holmgren (7) and Jalen Williams (8) and guard Luguentz Dort (second from right) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren: Defensive Player of the Year

Rank: 9 & 10

Not only are Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren two of the best defensive players currently on this elite Thunder team, but they're also some of the best defensive talents the league currently has to offer.

The case for Holmgren is likely well known among the Loud City faithful, as he's already showcased his expertise while serving as a member of the franchise.

Per NBA.com, in his rookie season alone he found himself defending a whopping 615 shots at the rim, which ranked in as the second most on the entire year, and held opponents attempting such shots to just a 52.8 percent clip, which ranked seventh out of the 71 players who defended at least 200 shots from this range.

Of course, even though he's already proven to be an elite shot-swatter (averaged 2.5 blocks last season) and low-post protector, his length, athleticism, and overall quickness allow him to step out from beyond the painted area, which makes him a menacing player all over the floor for opposing talents to square off against while with the rock in their hand.

For Caruso, his claim to the award may be less known among Thunder fans compared to Chet's, but he's only proven himself to be one of the game's elite defensemen throughout his seven-year career.

Last year, the veteran managed to earn his second All-Defensive team selection and finished things off with 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 3.7 deflections, each of which ranked fifth, third, and first among guards who played 50 or more games in 2023-24. With all this, he was the only player in the league to record at least 100 steals and 70 blocks.

While both Holmgren and Caruso's odds of pulling away with the DPOY award may be thin, what could bode well for them is to have just slight improvements in their counting stats (for the former, perhaps raise his steals average to over 1.0 a game and cut down on his 2.4 personal fouls, while the latter could see less fouling himself what with his 2.5 per game) accompanied by OKC moving up to a top-three defensive rating as an entire unit.

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