Four Thunder Players Listed in The Ringer’s Top 125

Oklahoma City had a breakout year on the court, and the team’s ceiling looks as high as ever. With Chet Holmgren back into the fold, there’s no telling what the potential of next year’s team is.

Part of the reason behind the Thunder’s breakout is the individual development throughout the team’s young core. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and even Lu Dort improved in different ways throughout the season and set the team up for big time success.

Four Thunder players made The Ringer’s Top 125 NBA Players year-end rankings.

13. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
69. Josh Giddey
81. Jalen Williams
112. Lu Dort

All between 20-24 years old. None were Top 5 picks.

21 year old/#2 pick Chet Holmgren looking to join the list next season. pic.twitter.com/zLmDimYXpt
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 14, 2023

The Ringer released its Top 125 NBA Players year-end rankings, and Oklahoma City had a solid showing throughout the roster. In years past, Thunder players have been absent from most lists but in 2023, the basketball community is starting to take notice.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checked in at No. 13 after finishing in the top-five of MVP voting and securing a spot on the All-NBA First Team. Josh Giddey experienced a sophomore surge rather than a slump, earning a ranking at No. 69. Jalen Williams, who finished second in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year voting, already ranks No. 81 after his inaugural season in the league. Last but not least for Oklahoma City, Lu Dort was listed at No. 112 after another season of locking up the NBA’s best perimeter talent.

With a strong rookie campaign, Holmgren can give the Thunder another player on the list an off-season from now. Oklahoma City also has the No. 12 pick in next week’s draft, meaning the young core could expand very soon. Considering every Thunder player on the list is under 25 years old, it's very possible they could inch even higher over the course of the next season.

The expectations are slowly raising in Oklahoma City, and that's a positive sign for the organization. They might even be a little bit ahead of schedule.

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