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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Oklahoma City Thunder are back at it this season. They also have the kind of expectations that come with being the team everyone thinks is going to be No. 1. After proving they could win at the highest level last season, at least almost, the Thunder aren't underdogs. Every opponent knows exactly what they're walking into with this team.
The biggest question heading into the season might simply be health. That's the case for a lot of teams.
Oklahoma City is counting on getting Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell back at full strength after both dealt with injuries. Williams' hamstring issue and Mitchell's calf injury took away valuable time, and having both players available gives the Thunder more depth, creativity and stability throughout the rotation.
The offseason did bring some difficult changes. Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort were all moved in trades. Those departures weren't necessarily about basketball fit. They were also about the financial reality of maintaining a championship roster. The moves helped the Thunder avoid roughly $200 million in luxury tax payments while opening the door for younger players.
That's where the next wave comes into play. Oklahoma City added Aday Mara through the draft, along with guard Bennett Stirtz, giving the franchise younger talent to develop. Mara brings much-needed size and another intriguing option in the frontcourt, while Stirtz adds another young guard to a system that has consistently found ways to maximize things.
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The Thunder also continue to hold a hefty collection of draft assets, including seven second-round picks. For a team that has built much of its success through development and patience, that's special.
Still, the foundation remains the same. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead the way, while the Thunder's identity remains built around defense, unselfish basketball and players who understand their role. That's been the formula behind their rise, and there is no reason to expect that to change.
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The challenge now is different. Oklahoma City is no longer trying to prove it belongs among the NBA 's best. It has to handle the pressure that comes with being one of the best.
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