Oklahoma City Thunder 2024-25 Season Preview, Predictions, & Odds

The Oklahoma City Thunder begin the season with the best online sportsbook odds of getting to the NBA Finals.

NBA futures odds are available at the BetMGM online sportsbook, including basketball odds for NBA champion, division winner, and player awards.

Oklahoma City Thunder Futures Odds

Win Total: 56.5

Northwest Division: -130

Western Conference: +310

NBA Championship: +675

The Thunder’s NBA Finals odds haven’t been this short since they were +750 entering 2015-16.

Oklahoma City Thunder Offseason Moves

The Thunder added Alex Caruso in a trade with the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey. The team also signed Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. 

Oklahoma City Thunder Additions

Oklahoma City Thunder Departures

Oklahoma City Thunder 2024-25 Betting Prediction

Prediction: Under 56.5 Wins (+110)

I predict that the Thunder will win under 56.5 games this season.

Yes, they went 57-25 last season, becoming the youngest team to earn a top seed in NBA history, added Caruso to bolster an already strong defensive unit and Hartenstein to beef up their size on the interior.

However, it’ll take some time for the new pieces to gel, which could lead to some growing pains early in the season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in MVP voting last season after averaging 30.1 points on 53.5% shooting, with 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and two steals per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander excels at driving to the rim, using his crossover, spin move, and ability to decelerate on a dime. He smoothly goes into stepback, fadeaway, turnaround, and step-through jumpers when his access to the rim is blocked. His Eurostep and pump fakes create significant separation, allowing him to exploit the space when defenders bite on his fakes.

Defenders may think they have SGA beat when they force the right-handed star to go left, but he can beat you with his opposite hand and in that direction as well. 

Gilgeous-Alexander is a capable shooter from a distance, but most of his damage will come in the mid-range and at the rim.

Gilgeous-Alexander is also a premier on-ball defender, leveraging his 6-foot-6 frame to suffocate his opponent on the perimeter and drive, jump the passing lanes, body up his man and force them into difficult shots, poke away the ball, and block shots. 

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 112 points in the clutch last season, good for seventh in the league. He also was tied for first in steals with De’Aaron Fox, recording 150 total swipes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the CLUTCH gene 🧬

He had SEVEN game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final two minutes during the 2023-2024 regular season!

OKC seeks a 2-0 series lead, tonight at 9:30pm/et on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/zapHqv1mp8

— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024

Chet Holmgren’s development will be key this season. He hit most of his 3-pointers off the catch-and-shoot, but he also displayed the ability to drive to the rim and feast off cuts to the rim. 

The next step in his game would be to improve his mid-range game by shooting a higher volume of turnaround and fadeaway jumpers and driving with more frequency, but he was only a rookie last season, so perhaps more exposure in the league will help him improve in those areas.

Defensively, Holmgren should continue to serve as a high-level rim protector, as well as a perimeter and on-ball defender with the ability to stick with his man laterally. He is also a serviceable post defender capable of stopping similar-sized opponents. 

Hartenstein will take care of bigger-bodied opponents while significantly improving OKC’s numbers on the glass with his rebounding prowess.

The pick-and-roll between SGA and Hartenstein will also yield a ton of scoring opportunities, given SGA’s prowess of scoring off the screen, and Hartenstein’s adeptness at running the action as a roll man, either taking it in for a layup or dunk or swinging it to the corner for open 3-pointers.

Jalen Williams flashed a ton of upside as a two-way wing last season, showcasing strong ball-handling and driving skills, shot creation off the dribble, a 3-point shot, and on-ball and perimeter defence.

With a sound defensive group, featuring Gilgeous-Alexander, Caruso, Lu Dort, Holmgren, and Williams, and a host of 3-point shooters, drivers, and shot creators, OKC is in a position to win a championship next season.

However, winning 57 games is not easy, especially when you need to incorporate new pieces into a roster.