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After 14th and 10th place Western Conference finishes in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons respectively, Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed a hugely impressive turnaround in the 2023-24 campaign. The Thunder managed to top the division with 57 wins, with only the Boston Celtics racking up a better win percentage.
There’s no doubt that Mark Daigneault’s leadership played a huge part in this success, and the 39-year-old was duly rewarded with the NBA Coach of the Year award. However, there were numerous other factors that added up to help the Thunder to this impressive achievement.
Mark Daigneault's Leadership
A lot of the Thunder’s achievements in the 2023-24 campaign have to be accredited to Daigneault's incredible leadership, and the way he developed key players and strategies. Many pundits agree that he transformed the side into more than a sum of its parts. This resulted in players working together as a cohesive and, at times, unstoppable unit.
Daigneault is an innovative and unconventional coach, with some hugely impressive plays crafted from timeouts. He has also been adept at making the right in-game changes, rotating his players perfectly to gain the upper hand.
One of the coach’s key strengths during his time with the Thunder has been in player development. There has been a recent focus on the team’s investment in its G-League affiliate, Oklahoma City Blue, with various players ready to step up when called upon.
Daigneault has also helped foster the talent of rookie players. One of the head coach's charges was runner up for the Rookie of the Year award, after averaging 16.5 points per game. Thanks to the coach’s strong tactical prowess, this player along with numerous others has been able to sharpen his game and is quickly becoming one of the best players in the NBA.
Key Players and Performances
There were a few other players that put in exceptional performances over the season to guide the Thunder to the top of the table. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been pivotal in recent times, with over 30 points per game in 2023-24. In addition to the attacking advantage the Canadian brings, he is crucial for his leadership and experience. There’s no doubt that the 25-year-old is becoming a world beater, and he has a habit of turning it on in critical moments.
Players like Luguentz Dort and Gordon Hayward brought some much-needed experience to the young side, and helped the up-and-coming players stay grounded. Both of these stars have improved in recent times, thanks to the faith that Daigneault has shown in them. For example, it's clear that Dort's attacking attributes have sharpened, helping out at the offensive side of the court more often than he used to. Hayward was picked up mid-season, and his in-game IQ and veteran status have also been pivotal to the Thunder's success this term.
Building on This Next Season
There was a lot to be pleased with in the Thunder’s 2023-24 campaign. They were the youngest team to earn the top seed in the Western Conference in the history of the division, they picked up their first division title since 2016, and they made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Unfortunately, though, they didn’t go all the way, and were beaten by the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
The young side has improved vastly during Daigneault's tenure, and there’s a chance that they can go on to bigger and better things next term. Indeed, there’s likely to be a lot of betting site activity around the Thunder going into the 2024-25 NBA season. The Boston Celtics were heavily favored to win the NBA Championship this term, but the Thunder will most likely be among the top contenders in the pre-season betting next time out.
If the Thunder can use their strong 2023-24 season as a foundation for the future, there’s a chance that Daigneault could create a dynasty. The roster is young and packed with talent, and the management team has already shown that it’s focused on strategic acquisitions and player development.
The Thunder’s 2023-24 season is likely to go down as one of the best in its history. The exciting thing about this is that the team is young, and they have the potential to go on to even greater things in the future.
