The Oklahoma City Thunder just clinched the No. 1 seed of the Western Conference. They’ve been on a tear all year long and are now set for the playoffs. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates made league history with their amazing run.
Oklahoma City is an incredibly young team as the front office built a contender through the NBA Draft. As it turns out, the Thunder are the youngest team ever to make the playoffs as a one-seed, according to ClutchPoint’s very own Brett Siegel.
“The Thunder are the youngest team in NBA history (23.9 years) to secure a 1-seed in either conference.”
That’s an incredible feat no matter how you look at it. Usually, we see teams dominate the league when the average age is between 28 and 30. The fact this Thunder team earned the No. 1 seed of the Western Conference is insane. This franchise should be a problem for years to come.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way as the team’s top performer. He’s in the mix for the MVP Award after averaging 30.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren proved to be a difference-maker after averaging 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. It’s crazy to think that Holmgren is no where near his ceiling yet.
The Thunder finished the regular season with a 57-25 record. They won the tie-breaker over the Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed overall. But the job isn’t finished yet. Oklahoma City will be taking on either the New Orleans Pelicans or Los Angeles Lakers after the play-in tournament.
Thunder’s 2024 playoff outlook
The Thunder have been one of the best teams all season long. It’s hard to imagine they lose in the first round in a seven-game series. But then again, it’s happened before. But as long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues lighting it up, Oklahoma City is going to have a fighting chance.
They’re set up nicely to make a deep run in the postseason. The Pelicans or Lakers will be a challenge. But the Thunder are no joke. Many are expecting this team represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. But they have plenty of work ahead.
Other teams in the Western Conference to keep an eye on are the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers. All of these teams have a chance and the Thunder hope to silence the critics.
The play-in tournament begins on Tuesday, April 16. The Pelicans are taking on the Lakers while the Golden State Warriors will play the Sacramento Kings. The Eastern Conference play-in games starts on Wednesday, April 17, as the Miami Heat plays the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks take on the Chicago Bulls.
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