Oklahoma City Thunder Favorites for Western Conference Title

The Oklahoma City Thunder are poised for a strong 2024-25 NBA season, with ESPN's offseason poll indicating they are favorites to win the Western Conference, garnering 14 out of 18 votes from league executives. The roster has seen significant improvements, including the addition of Isaiah Hartenstein and the strategic swap of Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso, enhancing both defense and shooting capabilities. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to shine as a top player, having averaged over 30 points per game and finishing as a two-time MVP runner-up. Jalen Williams is also expected to take another step forward in his development, solidifying the team's core alongside Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. With a deep and talented roster, the Thunder aim to build on last season's success, which included a surprising 57 wins and the No. 1 seed in the West. Their championship ambitions are supported by a well-rounded team and a strong front office led by GM Sam Presti, who has an extensive collection of future draft picks to leverage for further talent acquisition.