25 Statements Made With Extreme Confidence
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win MVP.
If OKC finishes as the #1 seed for the second consecutive season and SGA puts up the same gaudy, efficient numbers and retains his newfound defensive reputation, it will be hard to deny last year’s runner-up the trophy this time around. I believe it’s a two man race between Shai and Luka. Doncic will put up gargantuan numbers and the Mavs will be in the thick of the race. But ultimately, OKC adds a third MVP to the trophy case.
2. Mark Daigneault will squint more times than Clint Eastwood did in his entire filmography.
The 94 year old Hollywood icon has starred in 73 movies. Let’s round up and say the average running time is 2 hours per film. That’s a lot of squints. But Daigneault gets 82 shots at 2.5 hours per every good, bad and ugly game. Mark has Clint bodied in squint totals and call me crazy, but I like his chances in squints per 36 as well.
3. Alex Caruso will start most games.
One of the biggest question marks before Isaiah Hartenstein’s unfortunate injury was which of OKC’s two new offseason additions would take Josh Giddey’s starting spot. I leaned Caruso before but thought and still think the starters may remain fluid and change depending on match up. But AC will start more games than anyone not named Shai, Chet, Jalen or Lu.
4. Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell will get rotation minutes this season.
Not on a nightly basis. But Hartenstein, JWill and Kenrich are out to start the season. OKC still values developing their young players despite being a contender. And the team intentionally drafted two older, NBA ready rookies. It’ll be sporadic but I expect to see both guys play with the Thunder this year.
5. OKC will have a lottery pick via the LA Clippers in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The West is stacked. Kawhi is out somewhere between “indefinitely” and “weeks” and “an extended period of time.” He’s alluded to not playing back to backs whenever he is back. James Harden is still a great player but this isn’t 2017 anymore. I don’t think OKC will Capture The Flagg. But I do think a pick in the 8-12 range (in a very strong draft) is on the table.
6. Ousmane Dieng will play minutes...as a small ball 5.
Until Isaiah Hartenstein returns, OKC may play Backup Big By Committee. Especially with JWill and Kenrich Williams still sidelined by injuries. Don’t be surprised to see Dieng, rookie guard/forward Dillon Jones or former bartender turned Rip City Remix star turned Thunder rookie Alex Reese in the mix for bench big man minutes.
7. Thunder will have two All-Stars.
SGA is a lock. But I have no idea whether the second selection will be JDub or Chet. But if OKC is as great as everyone thinks they will be.. the best team in a conference is often rewarded with two All Stars. JDub and Chet both have All Star talent. I think both take another leap. It’s hard to break into the All Star Game, especially in the West. But OKC’s rich two All Star history continues this year.
8. Lu Dort will instigate a Mavs Twitter meltdown.
If you were on social media during the West Semis last season, you know that Dallas fans do not appreciate Dort’s physical style of playing defense vs Luka Doncic. Despite being labeled an MMA fighter and NFL linebacker, odds are Dort will remain undeterred and will continue his Wrestlemania ways against Luka.
9. Thunder will win 60 games.
I was more confident about this statement before the Isaiah Hartenstein injury. The West is tough. But I still believe this 57 win team can eke out 3 more wins due to the young guys improving and the additions of Caruso and iHart.
10. Thunder will be Top-10 in three-point attempts.
OKC was the #1 3 point shooting percentage team last season but only #16 in terms of volume. Pumping up the volume (dance, dance!) was a major talking point during training camp. And the team responded with a noticalbe uptick in treys in preseason. Welcome to the new hoops era.
Brandon Rahbar
11. National broadcasters will still make Jalen/Jaylin Williams jokes.
And yet somehow unironically still confuse the two players.
12. Tre Mann will be the most cheered for ex-Thunder player since Russell Westbrook.
Tre looked good in his time with the Hornets last year. OKC fans loved it. Tre showed up to watch his former team in the playoffs. OKC fans loved it. Tre looked great in preseason this year. OKC fans loved it. I think Tre will be a 6th Man of the Year candidate this season. OKC fans will love it.
13. Jalen Williams will double his three-point volume.
JDub attempted 3.4 3s per game last year. But in the preseason, he lapped those marks. I think that trend continues into the season.
14. Chet Holmgren will double his free throw volume.
Chet attempted 3.4 3s per game last year. But in the preseason, he lapped those marks. I think that trend continues into the season.
15. OKC will have a Top-1 defense.
There’s gonna be some great defenses in the NBA this year. Minnesota, Boston, Orlando just to name a few. But they’re all fighting for the #2 spot.
16. OKC will have two All-Defense selections.
Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren are the most likely. Lu Dort is a definite candidate as well. Meanwhile, having SGA, JDub, Cason and iHart as your 4th-7th best defenders is like having Diane Keaton, John Cazale, James Caan and Abe Vigoda as your movie’s supporting cast behind Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall.
17. The barking will continue…from the fans.
I think Loud City will take the baton from the players this year. I don’t think the players will bark in every post-game scrum. But I think the fans will bark every time JDub or JWill do something awesome on the court. (And judging by preseason, in every JDub player intro.)
18. Jaylin Williams will star in Smile 3.
This time around, instead of a horror flick, it will be the heartwarming tale of a hooper providing great vibes to his teammates and fans.
19. Aaron Wiggins will continue saving basketball.
Sometimes athletes are accused of mailing in their performances after they get their first big contract.
20. The Chet vs. Wemby rivalry will go to another level.
The NBA scheduled every Thunder vs Spurs game on National TV. Chet’s team is the West favorite. Wemby’s team added Chris Paul and should be much improved. From NBA talk show debate segments to social media to podcasts and YouTube videos.. the NBA’s newest and literally biggest player rivalry will continue to grow.
Cray Allred
21. Isaiah Joe will hit at least 40% of his three-pointers.
Look, some of these predictions are pretty bold so I need a layup or two in here somewhere.
22. Cason Wallace will remain the most underrated player on the team.
SGA will be in the MVP race. JDub and Chet will be in All Star discussions. Dort and Caruso will be in All Defense talks. Hartenstein’s impact will be highly praised. Wiggins saving basketball memes will still be all the rage. Joe will either be in the 3 point contest or continue getting fans uprising in anger about being passed over for the 3 point contest. Dieng’s minutes and role will be dissected. Jones and Mitchell have the rookie shine. Topić will get the “and they still have a projected top 5 pick coming back next year!” adulation. And all the while, Cason is just gonna continue excelling in his role of playing lock down defense and hitting buckets at a high clip. Dude would be a top 3 young core piece on so many other teams.
23. Isaiah Hartenstein will return before Christian McCaffrey.
This inside joke going out to all my fellow fantasy football players out there who had the #1 pick in your draft but are now 2-5.
24. Sam Presti will win Executive of the Year.
It’s wild that the man that has overseen two rebuilds that resulted in contenders hasn’t won this award yet. It’s past due.
25. Thunder will meet the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Both teams have top tier coaches. Both teams have MVP candidates. Both teams have Ja(y)lens as a great second scoring option. Both teams have giant shot-blocking, 3 point shooting centers. Both teams have an All-NBA 1st Team perimeter defender with a 3 point shot. Both teams have a fan favorite bonus elite defensive perimeter defender. Both teams have a supersub center coming off the bench that would start on half the teams in the league. And both teams have an embarrassment of depth riches after their top six rotation players. The West is a gauntlet. The East got tougher. We can’t predict health or trades. But right now, on paper, OKC and Boston are the two best teams in the NBA.
