“Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.”
-Aristotle
“I believe the children are our future.”
-Whitney Houston
I don’t think we’re talking about this enough. If the 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder continues at this pace, they will become the second youngest team in NBA history to have ever won a title. They are only four wins away.
Their youth is why, as we watched this team dismantle Western Conference opponents by the largest margin in NBA history, we continued to doubt them, when betting on them was the safest play all along.
Their youth is why, despite the overwhelming evidence, we still try to find ways to convince ourselves this team can’t do it.
Their youth is why, even after watching this team force the highest turnover rate in NBA playoff history, we talk ourselves out of believing.
Friends, it’s time to believe.
While it’s tough for most of us to get our kids to perform even the simplest of household tasks, head coach Mark Daigneault has his historically young Oklahoma City Thunder buying into a system. At the ripe, young, average age of 24.77 years old, this team is on the verge of making history.
Bill Walton’s Trail 1976-77 Trailblazers averaged 24.19 years of age. A special team and the subject of David Halberstam’s “Breaks of the Game,” Bill’s Blazers remain the youngest team to win an NBA title. Up until the Thunder’s run, Paul Arizin’s 1955-56 Warriors were the second youngest (25.58). The 1979-80 Lakers were the third youngest (25.71). Dolph Schayes’ 1954-55 Syracuse Nationals were the fourth youngest (25.86). George Mikan’s 1951-52 Lakers were the fifth youngest (25.94)
In other words, we haven’t seen this in a VERY long time.
Except for the 1979-80 Lakers, who had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on their roster along with a rookie phenomenon named Magic Johnson, those other championship teams were all led by Hall of Fame big men.
These Oklahoma City Thunder are led by a point guard who is deceivingly big on the court and even bigger in court presence. It wasn’t until I saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander congratulated by 6’4 Anthony Edwards after their series that I realized Gilgeous-Alexander was noticeably taller. Per ESPN’s player profile, SGA stands 6’6”. You’d never know it by the way he plays his game, seemingly smaller, shifty yet dominant, continuing to get his shot off as coolly as anyone who’s ever played. It’s his deceiving height, length and instincts that allow him to shoot over any defender with confidence as he baits them into any spot on the floor he desires.
But it’s first and foremost Oklahoma City’s defense that defines this team.
In the regular season, the Thunder forced opponents into 16.3 turnovers per game, best in the league, a full turnover better than the second-place team (Orlando – 15.4). OKC improved upon those numbers in the playoffs, against stiffer competition, forcing 17 a game. In other words, they are relentless.
They led the regular season in steals with 10.3 per game and, not surprisingly, elevated those numbers in the post-season as well, averaging 10.8 per game. The second highest team this post-season was a full two steals behind them.
NFL coaches swear by one statistic: turn the ball over less than your opponent and you’ll win football games. The Oklahoma City Thunder have brought that belief to the NBA. Their turnover differential is -5.8, best in the playoffs by far, nearly three turnovers better than the ousted Cleveland Cavaliers and four turnovers better than their current opponent, the Indiana Pacers. In other words, these youthful Thunder give themselves not only more opportunities to score the basketball but shift the game’s momentum in their favor.
When opponents were able to get a shot off, they were held to 43.6% shooting, best in the league. This post-season, their defense… wait for it… got better, opponents shooting a paltry 42.5%, also obviously best in the post-season.
Critics who trash the modern NBA for its lack of defense better tune into these Finals because they’re about to see a clinic: young, feisty, defenders buying into a system specifically built for them, swipes at every turn. Don’t take your eye off the ball, for you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.
Featuring one of the game’s elite scorers, the Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 114.3 points per game this season. Against Oklahoma City, they averaged 110.8 and that includes the only game in the series they won, an anomaly 143-101 final. Take that game away and Minnesota scored 102 a game, 12 points off their average.
Anthony Edwards averaged nearly 28 points per game this season. In the two close out games against OKC, he scored 16 and 19 respectively on 38% shooting. This is not to pick on Edwards. OKC does that against everyone. They even frustrated the Joker in the previous series, a feat not thought possible.
These young Thunder are singularly focused on an offense that is generated by their defense.
Playing defense isn’t fun. Dunks make SportsCenter. Three-pointers get the crowd going. Modern NBA players love to score but don’t want to commit to constantly guarding a man, at least not until now. It’s OKC’s defense that flusters its opponents and leads to easy baskets, more field goal attempts than anyone else this post-season.
All signs point not only to an OKC title, their first ever, but for an extended run since every player on this roster is locked up contractually for next season.
We’ve discussed recently where this team ranks historically, the seventh-winningest basketball team ever. Of the six other teams that have won 68 or more regular season games, four of them won a championship. All are celebrated as the greatest teams of all time.
It’s difficult to spot greatness when it first appears. We’re biased, and when they’re this young, understandably skeptical as it’s not something we’ve seen.
It will be fun to watch as they continue to prove us all wrong.
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