Major Impact: Independently Fueling a Dominant Season with the Thunder's Center Players
Major Impact: Independently Fueling a Dominant Season with the Thunder's Center Players
The Oklahoma City Thunder has had a stellar beginning to the 2024-25 season, accumulating a 22-5 record, but the journey hasn't been without challenges. Injuries, primarily, have been the major hurdles the team has had to overcome.
If you dissect the season, it can be divided into three distinct phases, each determined by the well-being and accessibility of the Thunder's centers.
To begin with, Chet Holmgren was the team's sole healthy center. With Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams out, Oklahoma City was deficient in frontcourt depth. Regardless, Holmgren's performance was sufficient to support the team. The 22-year-old excelled through the first 10 games, posting an average of over 16 points, almost 9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Additionally, his 3.5 blocks were among the league's best, placing him in contention for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Before Holmgren suffered a serious hip injury during the game against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 10, the Thunder had an impressive 8-1 record, establishing its position as one of the NBA's top teams.
Post-injury, with Holmgren out and Hartenstein and Williams still recuperating, the Thunder was left with no choice but to embrace small-ball tactics. Over the subsequent 5 games, Oklahoma City managed a 3-2 record, relying on tenacity and adaptability to keep up until reinforcements arrived. This phase of the season was when the Thunder performed its worst.
Hartenstein made his return to the roster against the Portland Trail Blazers in late November, marking a turning point and the commencement of the second phase of the 2024-25 season for OKC. Since his introduction, the Thunder has re-established itself as a formidable force, winning 11 out of 12 games with him in the lineup. His presence has been instrumental, enabling him to average 12.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists per game, while displaying his exceptional rebounding and passing skills.
The statistics are telling: Oklahoma City boasts a record of 19-2 when either Holmgren or Hartenstein plays a full game. Conversely, the Thunder has only managed 3 wins in games when neither of its primary centers is available for the entire duration. This underscores the significance of having a reliable center on the team and the influence each brings to the game.
What's fascinating is that Holmgren and Hartenstein haven't shared the court together this season. When Oklahoma City signed the ex-New York Knick in the offseason, the plan was for the two 7-footers to collaborate on the court while also adopting a rotation to ensure one was almost always present. Holmgren is expected to return closer to the NBA All-Star break in February, but the Thunder has proven that it can maintain its lead in the Western Conference rankings without him. Once both centers are fit, the team aims to integrate them, potentially unlocking a new level of dominance.
Assuming both Holmgren and Hartenstein are fit heading into the playoffs, the Thunder could potentially emerge as a genuine championship contender. Add the possibility of a trade deadline acquisition and the continued growth of this young team, and Oklahoma City's future looks promising.
After enduring years of instability at the center position, the Thunder now boasts impressive depth — when fit. The statistics don't lie: when one of these 7-footers is on the court, Oklahoma City is arguably the best team in the NBA.
- Chet Holmgren's serious hip injury on Nov. 10 against the Golden State Warriors was a significant setback for the Oklahoma City Thunder, as he was their sole healthy center at the time.
- Despite Isaiah Hartenstein's contract with the Thunder, he wasn't able to make a significant impact during Holmgren's injury period due to his own recovery process.
- The Thunder's record took a hit during the first phase of Hartenstein's return, with the team struggling to maintain its form without its primary centers, resulting in a 3-2 record over 5 games.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder's center position has been a mainstay in the team's thunder news this season, with both Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein playing crucial roles in the team's impressive 22-5 record.
- The Thunder's future looks promising if both Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein remain fit, as their presence in the lineup significantly improves the team's performance, as evidenced by their 19-2 record when one of them plays a full game.