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We’re at the end of the 2024-25 regular season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are the top seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season and have broken their franchise record for the most wins in a single season.
Oklahoma City has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who will likely win his first MVP.
The Thunder have dealt with adversity, as multiple key core players have missed large stretches of the season with injuries.
Here are my grades for every Thunder player in the regular season:
Thunder Player Grades for 2024-25 Season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A+
Gilgeous-Alexander is likely to win his first MVP, and what he’s doing should not be taken for granted.
In 76 games, he’s averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block on 52/37/90 shooting splits.
SGA put together one of the best guard seasons in the modern era, leading the league in scoring. Here’s his historic scoring resume: He scored 20+ points in 72 consecutive games (the second-longest streak), had the most 50-point, 40-point, 30-point, and 20-point games, and only had eight games scoring less than 25 points.
SGA joins Michael Jordan as the only guard to average 30 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game on 50 percent shooting from the floor in three consecutive seasons.
Jalen Williams: A-
Year three was a season in which Jalen Williams was tasked with more offensive responsibilities due to Josh Giddey‘s departure and the high expectations the Thunder organization had for him.
Williams has been asked to be the secondary creator and scorer and to lead the second unit when SGA is off the court.
There have been learning curves for the third-year guard, as he’s still developing on offense.
Offensively, his volume has increased, but his efficiency has dipped.
However, Williams has emerged as one of the league’s most versatile defenders.
Throughout the season, Williams has been tasked to defend all five positions. Highlighting his versatility.
Williams was named an All-Star for the first time, averaging career-highs of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals. He has a legitimate case to make the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.
Chet Holmgren: B-
During the first 10 games of the season, Chet Holmgren played at an All-Star caliber level and liked the DPOY. Then, he suffered a significant hip injury, which caused him to be out for twelve weeks and miss 39 games.
Since returning, Holmgren has had to reintegrate himself back into the lineup, and playing alongside Isaiah Hartenstein has been an adjustment period for him on both ends.
The injury has held back his progression, as his offensive production has been inconsistent. In 32 games, Holmgren averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 2 assists per game.
Cason Wallace: B+
Cason Wallace has gone under the radar due to the amount of talent on this roster.
Wallace started his sophomore season off slow offensively, but his offense picked up in 2025, as he averaged 10 points on 52/41/51 shooting splits.
Wallace has been disruptive, and his defensive impact has been felt all season long. He tied for second in the league in steals (1.8).
Wallace has been impactful and has solidified himself as a key player, averaging.
Lu Dort: A-
Lu Dort has become one of the league’s best role players.
Dort put himself into DPOY conversions. He took the toughest assignments, disrupted the opposing team’s offensive game plans, and was Oklahoma City’s most consistent shooter, shooting 41.2 percent from three on 5.8 attempts this season.
He’s taken a reduced role and has filtered out most ill-advised habits from the “tanking seasons.”
It’s hard to ask for more from Dort, as he’s become quite the complementary player.
Isaiah Joe: B+
As the lone true sniper of the team, there’s a lot of pressure on Isaiah Joe.
Joe was inconsistent and had a few cold stretches, which contributed to some of his early-season struggles.
During October, November, and December (30 games), Joe made 34.8 percent of his three-point on 5.8 attempts.
However, in 2025 (44 games), Joe made 45 percent of his threes on 6.6 attempts, including 10 3-pointers against the Utah Jazz, which tied the franchise record.
Overall, Joe shot 41.2 percent from three on 6.3 attempts for the season.
Isaiah Hartenstein: A-
Many deemed the acquisition of Isaiah Hartenstein as an overpay.
Hartenstein immediately dispelled those statements. He has been a seamless transition, and his play style and impact have added another layer to Oklahoma City.
Hartenstein averaged 11.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
The only downside is that Hartenstein missed 25 games this season.
Aaron Wiggins: A-
Aaron Wiggins was up and down during the first half of the season, with some high flashes and some head-scratching lows. This aligned with his inconsistent minutes and production, especially in the early stages of the season.
The turning point of Wiggins’s season — his 41-point explosion versus Sacramento on February 1st. Since that game, Wiggins was Oklahoma City’s third-leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points on 49/41/83 shooting splits.
His defensive lapses are amplified due to being surrounded by some of the league’s best disruptors and the NBA’s best overall defense.
This season, Wiggins has really blossomed, showing how good of a value his contract is. He’s one of Oklahoma City’s key players and their third-best creator on the team.
Jaylin Williams: B
Coming into the season, Jaylin Williams was supposed to be the third-string center behind Holmgren and Hartenstein.
However, Hartenstein and Holmgren missed significant time during the season’s early stages.
Forcing Williams back into the backup center role.
Despite being a grounded rim protector, Williams has shown improvement on defense.
Williams shot the ball at a career-low rate, 39.2 percent from the floor and 32.5 percent from three, throughout the first 50 games. Since March 1st, however, Williams has played the best stretch of basketball of his career, notching three triple-doubles, highlighting his connectedness as a passing big. Plus, he shot 53.7 percent from three.
Alex Caruso: B+
This offseason, Oklahoma City replaced Giddey for Alex Caruso.
Caruso has greatly impacted winning for the Thunder, showing his value with his game-changing defense.
Offensively, he’s been a connector throughout the entire season, but he started off the season slow — from a scoring and efficiency standpoint. However, in 2025, his shooting came back around, as he was much more efficient with 48/41/83 shooting splits.
Nagging injuries has been his main issue this season, as he missed 28 games.
Kenrich Williams: B+
We saw a healthy and the best version of Kenrich Williams.
Williams shot 38.6 percent from three. He’s making a career-high 88.2 percent of his free throws. He only played 16.4 minutes per game, which showed how deep this roster is.
Williams’s impact on the Thunder has gone under the radar due to the options coach Mark Daigneault now has on this roster.
Ajay Mitchell: B
Ajay Mitchell was a surprise before having toe surgery.
Oklahoma City’s record may not have indicated this, but this team sometimes felt the second-round rookie’s absence.
Mitchell provided secondary creation, sound decision-making, and stability, especially in the non-SGA minutes.
Mitchell recently returned to action, and grading his play during the season’s final two games wouldn’t be fair.
In 36 games, Mitchell averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 49/38/83 shooting splits.
Dillion Jones: D-
Dillion Jones isn’t a strong need for this current roster.
Jones appeared in 54 games. He isn’t ready for NBA minutes nor prepared to crack their rotation.
Jones spent the majority of this season with the Oklahoma City Blue. With the Thunder, he’s averaged 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
While shooting 38.3 percent from the floor and 25.4 percent from three.
It’s very early in his career, but he’s been underwhelming, considering that Oklahoma City traded five second-round picks to acquire him.
Ousmane Dieng: C
Ousmane Dieng has improved as a player but is in a tough situation to receive the necessary development.
Due to how quickly Oklahoma City has ascended into championship contention.
Dieng averaged 3.8 points on the season, playing 10.9 minutes per game and shooting 43.2 percent from the floor and 28.8 percent from three.
Injuries have played a factor in Dieng’s lack of development for Oklahoma City, as he has yet to crack their rotation. His margin for error is as thin as it’s ever been, and it’s trending towards him landing in a new situation in order for him to receive the proper development.
Branden Carlson: B
Branden Carlson was initially signed into a 10-day contract.
When the opportunity presented itself, he made the most of it — ascended into earning a two-way contract.
Most notably, versus Cleveland, knocking down three 3-pointers in his stint.
He’s not a rim protector or great rebounder, but he provides floor spacing.
Carlson has been productive when his name has been called. He ended the regular season on a strong note with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.
More must-reads:
- Bulls sign HC Billy Donovan to multiyear extension
- Nikola Jokic’s agent sparks LeBron James to Denver speculation with Instagram post
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Former NBA MVP could be nearing the end of his career
For the past two seasons, Joel Embiid has been dealing with a knee issue. The former MVP underwent surgery in April to try to repair his meniscus, the second time he's received such surgery in the past 12 months. Embiid recently sat down for a tell-all interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, where he detailed the struggles his body is currently going through. "We're not going to push anything," Embiid said. "For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach ... We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later ... It's all about the results ... If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games." Embiid's struggles have left the Sixers in a precarious situation. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has built the entire roster around the star center's unique skill set. Philadelphia has constructed a team to go as far as Embiid can take it. It makes sense, then, that Embiid is just as frustrated with his injury-induced absences as the rest of the Sixers fanbase. In a July 27 appearance on Sirius XM Radio, Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer shared a unique take on the big man's recent interview and the messaging he's been putting out recently. "I think Joel may know that the end is near, and this is just me saying, and it's kind of like explaining to people what he's been going through," Pompey said. "Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain (they're in) and how much they're going through. The thing I took from it was no matter who is there, the culture is the same. And I feel like Joel Embiid knows that it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he feels as though he can't play to the level he used to. I could be wrong. He could come out and have another MVP season. But that was my takeaway." Embiid is probably one more lost season away from making such a difficult decision. He's only suited up for 58 games over the past two seasons, 39 in 2023-24 and 19 in 2024-25. Embiid doesn't project as the sort of player who would accept a decline while still cashing enormous checks that limit his team's ability to compete. The problem for Embiid is that injuries are only half the battle. Even when healthy, conditioning has been his Achilles heel. So, not only would he need to stay injury-free, both with his knee and his back, but he would also need to get into the best shape of his life. Anything less, and the Sixers could be doomed to repeat their failures of the past. Embiid is still working his way through a long road of recovery. However, he may also be coming to terms that the NBA chapter of his life is on the final few pages, and that must be a daunting reality to face.
Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
Shedeur Sanders has been working with the Cleveland Browns' equipment staff as the No. 4 quarterback this summer. He'll have a new opportunity following troubling injury news for Kenny Pickett. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's practice and will not receive reps until his issue is re-evaluated. "Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources," Schefter posted on X. "Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett's injury will shake up the quarterback race in Cleveland. Through OTAs and early in training camp, Sanders has been the odd man out as the only signal caller on the roster not to receive reps with the first-team offense. It's unclear if the Browns coaching staff intends to give Sanders reps with the first-team offense now that Pickett is sidelined, but the fifth-round pick will have more chances this week to prove that he deserves an opportunity to stay in Cleveland. The Browns are in a unique situation with their rookie quarterbacks. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was selected before Sanders, but the son of Deion Sanders fell to Day 3 of the draft for reasons other than talent. The majority of draft analysts had Sanders as a better-graded quarterback than Gabriel, and many thought the Colorado product would be taken in the first round. The Browns can use the injury as an excuse to give Sanders reps with the first team, and it's a task they need to take advantage of before the team names a starter. Sanders has the potential to be a starter in the league, and this week is pivotal for his rookie season in Cleveland.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Report: Bears' Ben Johnson screamed at Caleb Williams during training camp
There is no ramp-up period for the Chicago Bears at training camp this year. Head coach Ben Johnson brought the same intensity he harbored during OTAs at the Bears’ first practice of training camp Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. Adam Hoge of CHGO Bears said that Johnson was upset with Williams and the offense multiple times on Wednesday. He got into the face of the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft during a seven-on-seven drill. “Accountability is what I’m talking about, though, because, look, it was like a three-strike thing, let’s call three strikes, and you’re out all right,” Hoge said on the CHGO podcast. “Because we saw Ben get in Caleb’s, you know what, during seven-on-sevens about something. I don’t know what it was about, but he wasn’t happy, and he was screaming at him, alright.” Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson tried to show patience Johnson tried to show patience with the second mistake, when there was a miscommunication with the wide receivers getting lined up. He let Williams and the receivers sort the issue out before the play. But Johnson didn’t stand idly on the third pre-snap mistake; another miscommunication between Williams and the receivers. Johnson pulled the entire first-team off the field in favor of the second-team led by veteran quarterback Case Keenum. Caleb Williams is picking up where he left off in OTAs Per multiple reports, the Bears’ offense had a poor day. Mark Carman called Williams’ performance on Wednesday the worst part of practice. “Today was just bad,” Carman said. “They had to pull the offense off the field. (Williams) wasn’t getting them lined up. It might not have been his fault every single time...his first pass was picked off (by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds). “He rolled right on long play, Cold Kmet’s wide open right in front of him. He ended up running out of bounds. It just wasn’t a good day for the quarterback.” Williams didn’t have a great spring. He struggled with every duty from calling the play in the huddle to getting the cadence right to throwing the ball into the middle of the field or further than 10 yards. As of Day 1 at camp, all of those things are still problems. But at least the $13 million per year head coach is mad.
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