The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best team in the NBA. With a 58-12 record at the time of this writing, the Thunder hold the NBA's top seed by 1.5 games over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company have been nearly unstoppable all season long. Heading into the NBA Playoffs, they will be among the top contenders to win the NBA Finals.
In the latest "KIA MVP Ladder" from NBA.com, Gilgeous-Alexander was named as the top contender to receive the prestigious award.
While Oklahoma City has been the league's best regular season team so far, things get much more difficult in the playoffs. Not everyone believes that the Thunder have what it takes to win a championship.
One of those people is former NBA guard Austin Rivers.
As shared by Brandon Rahbar of Daily Thunder, Rivers sent an ominous warning to Oklahoma City.
"When the playoffs come, and they allow people to be more physical with him (Gilgeous-Alexander) to where he's not getting all these calls, and it's going to be a rude awakening," Rivers said. "He's gonna still do his thing, but a part of him just getting away with that team of OKC, just getting away with all these foul calls, it's not going to be like that."
Thunder have the 2nd worst free throw differential in the NBA.
Thunder shoot the 4th fewest free throw attempts.
Thunder opponents shoot the 5th most free throw attempts.
OKC is winning despite free throw disparity.. not because of it.
(@NotAnOKCFan)pic.twitter.com/miz0ulPqAf
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) March 22, 2025
So far this season, Gilgeous-Alexander has played in 67 games. In those appearances, he has averaged 32.9 points per game to go along with 6.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks. He has shot 52.8% from the floor and 37.4% from 3-point range.
Outside of Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have had a good scoring balance. Jalen Williams has averaged 21.3, Chet Holmgren has chipped in 15.2, Aaron Wiggins is at an average of 11.6, and Isaiah Hartenstein has put up 11.4.
Oklahoma City will have a chance to silent the doubters when the playoffs get underway.
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM.