The Oklahoma City Thunder cruised only twice in history to the NBA Finals this season, but this could only be the beginning of one of the league’s youngest teams.
OKC’s young team advances to the 2025 NBA Finals
Thunder was the best team in the NBA this year, and after finishing the regular season at the Western Conference, they continued to dominate deep into the playoffs.
As a result of continued success, OKC is the first NBA Finals since 2012 thanks to a comfortable victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Thunder took just four games to dismantle Minnesota, and the Timberwolves remained one of five teams that never played the NBA Finals.
League MVP Shay Gilleus Alexander has played a major role in team Joy this year, but his younger teammates have shown experience beyond the years this season.
OKC has the youngest team in the league this season, with the average age of its roster at just 25.6 years old.
Not only did they have the youngest team in the league, but the Thunder became the youngest team to reach the finals from 1976 to 77.
The Oklahoma City Thunder is the second youngest team in NBA history to play the NBA Finals during the Shot Clock era
They average age 25.6 years old ⛈️ pic.twitter.com/mmeup1aost
– The weak (@underdog) May 29, 2025
Drafts may lead to OKC dynasty
The Thunder already has a youthful team, but they can add even more young superstars to their already talented roster, with some great draft picks coming up.
Following some of the most underrated deals in NBA history, OKC holds the keys to a potential dynasty.
Thunder Draft Picks
- 2025: 2nd pick, 1st round
- 2026: 2nd pick, 1st round pick
- 2027: 2nd round pick, 2nd round pick
- 2028: 1st round pick, 3rd round pick
- 2029: 1st round pick, 5th round pick
The majority of OKC’s upcoming draft topics came from one deal. This could potentially go down as one of the best in NBA history.
In 2019, the Thunder traded Paul George for the Clippers for Gilgauss Alexander, and exchanged historic draft picks to rebuild the team.
Since then, George has struggled in the league, preventing the nine-time All-Star from reaching the height he made at OKC in 2018-19.
Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved into one of the league’s biggest superstars, earning MVP over the past 20 years and one of four players to make the finals in the same season.
OKC’s first round pick in 2024 is scheduled to debut in 2025, with 6’6 guard Nicolatopic not playing in the NBA following a season-ending ACL injury prior to the draft.