The Oklahoma City Thunder are well-placed to replace the Golden State Warriors as the NBA’s dominant franchise. The Thunder have an exciting squad and salary cap space to manoeuvre with. In addition, they currently have 13 first-round draft picks over the next seven years.
The Oklahoma City Thunder surprised many when they finished on top of the 2023-24 Western Conference regular season standings, but their impressive upturn in fortunes last season was no accident.
On the contrary, it could be the first sign that we are witnessing the emergence of a powerhouse in the NBA which could take over from the Golden State Warriors as the dominant franchise.
The Thunder’s journey to the top began with a series of bold moves after Kevin Durant left – ironically for the Warriors – in 2016. Sam Presti, the Thunder’s general manager who previously served in various roles for the San Antonio Spurs during their championship wins in 2003, 2005 and 2007, focused on accumulating draft picks and young talent.
One of the Thunder’s key moves came in 2019. They sent star forward Paul George to the LA Clippers and received five first-round draft picks, two pick swaps, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Ironically, guard Gilgeous-Alexander has become the player most likely to lead the Thunder to NBA dominance in the same way Curry did for the Warriors, with Chet Holmgren drafted second overall in 2022 to help the team make the promised land.
In addition to these players, OKC continues to benefit from its draft strategy. They still own multiple first-round picks in upcoming drafts, which will allow them to either bring in more elite talent or use them as trade assets to land a star player if necessary. This continuous influx of young talent puts OKC in a prime position to stay competitive for years to come, potentially extending their dominance in a similar way to how the Warriors sustained their dynasty.
The Thunder still hold 13 first-round picks over the next seven years and as the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren mature, there will likely be a steady influx of new talent joining them.
The Thunder’s rise mirrors what the Golden State Warriors achieved a decade ago. Golden State’s dynasty was built on elite drafting (Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green), with Curry leading the charge as one of the most transformative players of his generation. Similarly, the Thunder have their own potential leader in Gilgeous-Alexander and a surrounding cast with high ceilings. Holmgren can go on to become an even better leader on the defensive side than Green has been for the Warriors over the years.
As the Thunder are rising, the Warriors are beginning to show signs of decline. While Golden State still has a championship pedigree, the core players are aging. Steph Curry is now 36, and while still elite, his prime years are limited. Green is not the player he once was and Durant and Thompson have left.
Additionally, the financial strain of keeping their championship core intact over several years has limited the Warriors’ ability to bring in high-impact young players. The NBA’s salary cap and luxury tax rules have forced Golden State to make tough decisions, which will only become harder as their stars age. This makes it difficult for them to remain at the top without a clear succession plan in place.
In contrast, OKC’s youth and salary flexibility ensure that they have room to continue improving and eventually surpass the Warriors as the dominant force in the NBA.
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