OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – SEPTEMBER 30: Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at … [+] Paycom Center on September 30, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
As the start of the NBA’s regular season inches closer, all 30 teams around the league are currently participating in training camp and preseason games are underway. This provides an opportunity for teams to improve in a practice setting and in on-court play. These several weeks leading up to the regular season are often overlooked, but they’re extremely important for building chemistry and preparing for a strong start to the season.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, a five-game preseason slate will begin on Monday night on the road against the San Antonio Spurs.
- Oct. 7: at San Antonio Spurs
- Oct. 9: Houston Rockets
- Oct. 10: New Zealand Breakers (in Tulsa)
- Oct. 15: at Denver Nuggets
- Oct. 17: Atlanta Hawks
These five games will provide an opportunity for players to step up and showcase what they’ve worked on all summer. Especially for the players toward the end of the bench who aren’t projected to earn many minutes this season, injuries to guys like Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams — along with rookie Nikola Topic — will allow for opportunities that may not have been there before. Furthermore, building chemistry and integrating new pieces like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein will be important for Oklahoma City.
What are the primary storylines entering this preseason stretch for the Thunder?
Starting Lineups
It’s still unclear who exactly will start for the Thunder on opening night. It’s a guarantee that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will be in the starting lineup, with the other two spots being filled by some combination of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
With that in mind, Oklahoma City likely won’t commit to its starting lineup until the hours leading up to their regular season opener, but the preseason could help predict who that might be. The Thunder will rest different key players throughout the preseason, so we may not see that exact lineup start in the coming two weeks, nor will coach Mark Daigneault commit to that combination of five players.
The Roles of Ousmane Dieng and Dillon Jones
Oklahoma City only has 11 of its full-time contract players suiting up in the preseason. The Thunder has 14 players on those deals, but Nikola Topic is out for the year while Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are injured with a re-evaluation set for after the preseason.
As such, there will be more opportunities for players that normally would be at the end of the bench, like rookie Dillon Jones and young developmental piece Ousmane Dieng. While both would have gotten minutes in the preseason anyway, these injuries provide even more of an opportunity. In fact, they’ll both have the chance to build momentum towards carving out a regular season role.
Integration of Two New Pieces
Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein are both projected to be top-six rotation pieces in the upcoming season and were the Thunder’s two big offseason acquisitions. As such, they’ll be making their respective debuts on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs in the preseason opener.
In fact, one or both could start on Monday, even if they don’t play a full slate of minutes. Beginning to learn their teammates on the court and build that chemistry as they integrate will be one of the most important things in the preseason for OKC.
A Focus on the Process
If there’s been one theme that stands out during camp, it’s the Thunder’s focus on process over results. Despite now being a contender now, the same focus on the process and making every day count that was an emphasis during the rebuild still remains.
Throughout the preseason, don’t be surprised if Daigneault does some unorthodox things, especially with lineups. It’s all about the process of trying things out, allowing players to learn in new situations and focusing on the process necessary to see the desired outcome.
These five preseason contests won’t count toward the Thunder’s record or conference standings, but will be very important as Oklahoma City looks to make a championship push in the 2024-25 campaign.
