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At a glance:
Record: 57-25 (1st, West)
Offensive Rating: 118.3 (3rd)
Defensive rating: 111.0 (4th)
Net rating: 7.3 (2nd)
Pace: 100.8 (5th)
2024 NBA Draft Picks: 12
The Thunder have been largely out of the title contender conversation for nearly a decade, but that changes in 2023-24. Oklahoma City went to the Western Conference Finals in the 2015-16 season and followed that up with four consecutive first-round exits and three straight playoff misses.
The Thunder had a 40-42 record in 2022-23, but the team took a big leap in 2023-24, recording 15 wins and earning first place in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed that finishing in the top 3 last season was no fluke. Jalen Williams followed his stellar rookie campaign with an even better effort in Year 2, and Chet Holmgren compiled a monster first season.
The future is bright for the up-and-coming Thunder, and fantasy managers have plenty of reasons to be excited. How did the team’s players fare in fantasy basketball during the 2023-24 season, and how should coaches approach them for next season and beyond? We’ve got you covered below!
Fantasy Spotlight: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA ranked second in fantasy value per game and totals behind averages of 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.3 triples, while he shot 53.5% from the floor and 87.4% from the free throw line. His rebounds, assists, steals and FG% were all career highs. In addition to being one of four players to average 30 points, SGA tied De’Aaron Fox for the league lead in steals per game, and Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in total steals.
Health concerns made him a valuable piece in 2022-23, and he showed his sustained durability in 2023-24 with 75 games played and 34.0 minutes per night. As an added bonus, his 2.2 turnovers were his lowest mark in four seasons.
SGA had a 5.4 ADP in 2023-24 fantasy drafts, and he should be a top-5 pick once again. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be afraid to draft the rising star so early. He is just entering his prime and should continue to put up excellent numbers on both ends of the court in the coming years.
Costume Reveal: Chet Holmgren
Holmgren played in the first round for a good stretch of the season and finished 25th in value per game and 7th in total. The big man averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 triples, and he would have been Rookie of the Year in almost any other season that didn’t include #1 sensation Victor Wembanyama.
Holmgren shot 53.0% from the field and 79.3% from the charity stripe. He logged 29.4 minutes per game and notably appeared in all 82 matches after missing all of what would have been his debut 2022-23 campaign.
Holmgren had some big games, including a 36/10/5/2/2 performance against Golden State on November 18 and a 35/14/1/2/3 line against Utah on March 20. games, and he made a career-high eight shots on Dec. 16 in Denver.
His 47.8 ADP made him an incredible value, although that ADP should increase considerably in the 2024-25 drafts. Selecting him in the second or third round of the draft wouldn’t be unreasonable considering his diverse and fantasy-friendly kit.
Fantasy Disappointment: Josh Giddey
Awake? More like “hold your horses.” Giddey played so poorly in 2023-24 that he was a discarded candidate midway through the season. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Giddey is not expected to receive an extension.
Giddey took a huge step forward in terms of efficiency in Year 2 and improved his statistical production across the board. In Year 3, however, Giddey regressed significantly. The Australian guard averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 dimes, 0.6 steals and 1.0 triples. Giddey appeared in 80 games and logged just 25.2 minutes per tilt. His points, rebounds, assists and steals were career lows, and he finished 153rd in fantasy value per game despite a lofty ADP of 58.9.
Giddey logged just 12.5 minutes in the Western Conference Semifinals and gave up his starting role to Isaiah Joe in Games 5 and 6 of the series. Giddey needs the ball in his hands to be most effective, and his skill set seems redundant on a team that already features SGA, Holmgren and Jalen Williams. A 22-year-old, 6’8 point guard should be attractive in trade scenarios, so don’t be surprised if Giddey is playing for a different team at some point next season.
Fantasy recaps/previews
Jalen Williams: After a phenomenal rookie campaign, JDub took over the next offense in 2023-24 with an even better performance. The second-year player from Santa Clara averaged 19.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 dimes, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.5 triples. Williams shot efficiently with 54.0/81.4/42.7 splits and committed just 1.7 turnovers. In addition to rebounds and steals, Williams’ shooting numbers and percentages have increased across the board.
He finished 30th per game and 37th overall, offering tremendous value to coaches thanks to his 65.7 ADP. We haven’t seen Williams’ best basketball yet, and the third-year big man deserves a look in the middle rounds of the 2024-25 fantasy draft as he continues to ascend.
Lu Dort: Dort played in 79 games, although he only logged 28.4 minutes per game, his fewest minutes since his rookie campaign. Dort’s production took a hit across the board, and he averaged 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 triples. Dort shot career-bests from the field (43.8%) and from beyond the arc (39.4%), while shooting 82.6% from the charity stripe.
Most 3PM by Thunder players this year:
Lu Dort – 156 15h (39.4% 3P)
Isaiah Joe – 147 (41.6%)
Chet Holmgren – 129 (37.0%)
Jalen Williams – 103 (42.7%)
Cason Wallace – 98 (41.9%)Snipers. pic.twitter.com/Q234OGlquY
– Thunder Muse (@ThunderMuse_) June 3, 2024
Dort finished outside the top 125 in fantasy value per game, although he was a top 80 player overall. He is a phenomenal defender in real life, known for putting opponents in the “Pain Chamber,” although this on-court defense has not translated exceptionally into the fantasy basketball realm. Dort is best suited as a 3-and-D specialist in deeper leagues who should see a lot of minutes and be available for most of the season.
Cason Wallace: Wallace was one of only two rookies to appear in all 82 games, joining teammate Chet Holmgren on that short list. Wallace played a significant rotational role in his inaugural campaign, logging 20.6 minutes per tilt and posting averages of 6.8 points, 2.3 boards, 1.5 dimes, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.2 triples. Wallace shot 49.1/78.4/41.9 splits and finished in the top 200 in fantasy value per game. The highlight of his rookie season came on March 10, when he scored 22 points and made four three-pointers against the Grizzlies. It’s not worth taking a look at 12-team leagues just yet, but it’s worth monitoring to see how his minutes shake out to open the 2024-25 campaign.
Isaiah Joe: Joe became known as an elite shooter and showcased his long-range shooting skills in his second season at OKC. Izzy Joe averaged 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 triples, shooting 45.8% from the floor and 86.5% from the charity stripe. Although most notable for his long-range accuracy, Joe also displayed his athleticism.
His best game of the season came on November 16, when he scored 23 points and made seven three-pointers at Golden State. He averaged 19.8 minutes in the Western Conference Semifinals and started Games 5 and 6 in place of Josh Giddey. If Giddey is traded before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Joe could gain a full-time starting role, which would make him worthy of being a final flier.
Gordon Hayward: Hayward provided limited production in 24.4 minutes and posted the worst statistical season since his rookie campaign in 2010-11. Availability has been a major concern in recent seasons, and the veteran could sign the final contract of his career in free agency this summer. It’s unknown where he’ll play in 2024-25, but regardless of landing spot, he’ll be a late flyer in fantasy drafts at best.
Restricted Free Agents: Keyontae Johnson, Olivier Sarr, TyTy Washington
Unrestricted Free Agents: Bismack Biyombo, Mike Muscala, Gordon Hayward
Club option: Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Lindy Waters III
