In the Oklahoma City Thunder edition of The Athletic’s John Hollinger 2022-23 season preview, he has them finishing with one of the worst records in the league.
The former vice-president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies predicts the Thunder will finish with a 20-62 record and in 15th place in the Western Conference.
Hollinger cites a lack of talent. He labels Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort as the only young worthwhile prospects on the team.
“After going 22-50 and 24-58 the past two seasons — overachieving their Pythagorean projections even to hit those win totals — Oklahoma City’s 2022-23 campaign doesn’t look like it will go much better.”
In his analysis, Hollinger is heavily critical of the Thunder’s draft history post-2012, writing that the team hasn’t had nearly enough hits despite picking relatively low in drafts until recently.
Hollinger is not a fan of the Thunder’s old draft philosophy of taking young players possessing raw talent with high tools that still need a ton of polishing on their basketball skills.
Hollinger said he was a huge fan of the hires of shooting coach Chip Engelland and front office member Vince Rozman. He believes both could help players improve their skillsets.
While it looks like the Thunder will endure another losing season, the hope at the end of the tunnel includes the team being able to draft either Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson in next year’s draft class.
If that happens, the number of losing seasons for the Thunder might mercifully come end after three seasons of win totals in the 20s.
