"The 'Thunder will be back' is a dangerous statement" - NBA analyst speculates OKC Thunder might suffer the same fate as injury-hit Grizzlies
Despite the OKC Thunder falling in six games to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals, there's plenty of optimism surrounding Oklahoma City. The Thunder have a talented group of young players as well as a clear leader in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, Sports Illustrated's Farbod Esnaashari warned fans to be cautious in their optimism.
Esnaashari likened the Thunder to the Memphis Grizzlies, who many thought would be a threat this season but were derailed by injuries and other circumstances.
"'The Thunder will be back' is a dangerous statement to assume," Esnaashari tweeted. "We just saw the Grizzlies look like that next team. Instead, they got battered with injuries the last two seasons and never really had a shot. Nothing is guaranteed, and you need to take advantage of being healthy."
The Memphis Grizzlies were a 50-win team in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. However, they won only 27 games this season. Their sudden downfall can be attributed to the numerous injuries to key players. Even more surprising is the fact that most of their players are under 30.
One crucial injury that affected the team was the shoulder injury to Ja Morant which required season-ending surgery. The player who suited up for the most games for the Grizzlies was Jaren Jackson Jr. (66 games).
The OKC Thunder roster is filled with young players, but injuries can occur without warning. While there are several reasons to be excited about the team, that optimism should also come with caution.
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Who are the young players to watch out for on the OKC Thunder?
Despite being a young team, the OKC Thunder were able to secure the first seed in the Western Conference this season.
The team is led by several young players who are expected to build upon their success. The team's leader, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will turn 26 in July after being a finalist for the NBA's MVP award.
There are also Jalen Williams, who is 22, as well as Luguentz Dort, who is 24. Chet Holmgren, who had a stellar maiden season in 2023-24, is 21 and was able to play all 82 games after missing all of last season.
The OKC Thunder also have Josh Giddey, who had a disappointing showing in the postseason. But at 21 years old, Giddey has displayed enough upside that the team could stick with him and see if he can bounce back.
There's also Cason Wallace (20), Jaylin Williams (21), Isaiah Joe (24) and Andrew Wiggins, who all showed plenty of potential. Whether they remain with the Thunder or move on to play for a different team, they could have bright futures in the league.
Aside from having all these young players, the OKC Thunder also have the 12th pick in this year's draft. If they keep that pick, that will allow them to add another young prospect.