The NBA Basketball Power Index predicts the OKC Thunder to be a powerhouse within the league

With the NBA preseason underway, many teams are forging the building blocks for the regular season and preparing their guys for the extensive 82-game season. With that comes pressure to perform, and many experts use tools to predict which teams will perform best.

One such team that ranks top in all major statistical categories is none other than the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a recent article by ESPN’s Dean Oliver, they predicted various outcomes for the 2024-25 NBA season using the Basketball Power Index (BPI).

Instead of a group of analysts coming together to decide on specific outcomes, the BPI considers various team attributes. From their current schedule and performance in these matchups to their performance last season, the BPI is one of the most accurate tools for determining a team’s success.

Taking all of these considerations into account, the BPI projected that the Thunder would be the league’s second-best team both offensively and defensively. Adding players like Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso while developing stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will give a team exactly that, especially considering how good OKC was last season.

Here’s how the rest of the offensive roster went:

Offensive BPI

Team rank	BPI rating
1. Boston Celtics	3.0
2. Oklahoma City Thunder	2.4
3. Philadelphia 76ers	2.3
4. Dallas Mavericks	2.1
5. Indiana Pacers	2.0

While there is no data table regarding the defensive rankings, ESPN stated that the teams in the top five include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

It’s also worth noting that in BPI’s ranking of the top teams with the best chance of reaching the NBA Finals, the OKC Thunder also placed second on this list. Trailing only the Boston Celtics, the Thunder have a 24.0% chance of making the Finals and a 12.5% ​​chance of winning it all.

Of course, these things are just predictions as anything can happen in the NBA. But considering how well the Thunder fits into such a trusted algorithm, it should say something about what the future holds in OKC.

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