The Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up their fourth preseason game with a dominant 124-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets. And let me say this: if what I just witnessed is considered “rusty” for this team, then we might be in for one of the most thrilling Thunder seasons yet.
I don’t want to jinx this young squad before the season even begins, but the signs I’ve seen so far aren’t likely to fade. If anything, they’ll only get sharper.
While I could break down several aspects of the game, let’s focus on one central question: by the end of this season, could Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams be viewed as the NBA’s top duo?
Right now, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics likely hold that distinction, especially coming off an NBA championship. Of course, it depends on how you frame the conversation. Daniel Bell weighed in by evaluating their full body of work, which is understandable.
Brown is a three-time All-Star and took home Finals MVP honors last season. In 2023, he earned a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. Meanwhile, Tatum, with his championship pedigree, boasts five All-Star appearances and three All-NBA First Team selections.
Clearly, Tatum and Brown have more accolades, but by the end of this season, that might be their only argument in this debate.
It’s well-known that SGA surpassed Tatum in the rankings last season, securing his place in the league’s top five. The real contest may be between Brown and Jalen Williams, and it all hinges on the leap OKC’s 6-foot-5, 220-pound guard/forward takes this season.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has emphasized his desire for Williams to be more aggressive with his shot selection, particularly from beyond the arc—something I mentioned repeatedly last season, especially during the playoffs. While Williams isn’t going to force ill-advised threes, he’s no longer hesitant to take open looks, as evidenced by his performance against Denver. He hit 2 of 4 from three-point range in the first quarter, and as the Nuggets adjusted defensively, he went back to his bread and butter: scoring inside 15 feet. He finished with 14 points in just 20 minutes.
With his offensive mindset paired with his defensive versatility—traits similar to Brown’s—Williams has a real opportunity to surpass the Celtics star as OKC pushes toward title contention.
As for Shai, I’ll keep it brief. Coming off a season where many felt he deserved the MVP, there wasn’t much to improve. One area I was eager to see progress in was his catch-and-shoot ability and overall shooting, along with his creativity off the dribble. Against Denver, we saw flashes of both in his 19 minutes on the court.
SGA finished with 19 points and five assists on 6-of-10 shooting.
Even if the Thunder don’t make it to the NBA Finals this season, they are undoubtedly taking steps in the right direction. Last season’s most glaring weaknesses have been addressed, and the added depth is allowing SGA and Jalen Williams the freedom to play their game.
Great story. Great questions. Thunder is THE team this season!