The Oklahoma City Thunder have largely maintained their championship form from last season. They are off to a dominant start, losing only once and posting a 21-1 record, including a 13-game winning streak.
Given the success they’ve had so far this year, a former two-time NBA champion believes the Thunder could go back-to-back this season. However, he also explained the struggles of accomplishing a repeat.
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2-Time NBA Champion Believes the Thunder Will Repeat
In an interview with Jack Green of Betway, Former two-time NBA champion Matt Bonner expressed his confidence in the Thunder this season. While teams haven’t gone back-to-back in winning a championship in recent memory, Bonner believes the Thunder could be the team to accomplish it in the modern era.
“At this stage of the season, my Finals prediction? The Cleveland Cavs and Oklahoma City Thunder — and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Oklahoma City to repeat,” Bonner said.
Despite his confidence in OKC, Bonner explained the challenges of pulling off a repeat. Being a former champion himself with the San Antonio Spurs, he understands what a defending team has to go through the following season.
Bonner noted how opposing teams put in extra effort to beat the defending champions. He also pointed out how the pressure could affect the team, knowing they have a chip on their shoulder.
“When you win an NBA championship, it’s such a physical, mental, and emotional grind,” Bonner said. “You play for two extra months under insane pressure. Then it’s finally over, and the mental relief is huge. But next season, you have the bullseye on your back. You’re getting everybody’s best shot every night.”
However, Bonner also believes that the leadership of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams is enough to guide the Thunder to another ring. He also noted how deep OKC’s roster is, making them the most efficient team this year.
“I think they’re focused enough,” Bonner continued. “I really like the leadership on the team — the steadiness of SGA and Jalen Williams. They have a lot of depth. I think they’re still the best team, and because of that, I’m picking them to win it, even though I don’t like doing it because it’s really hard to repeat.”
While there’s a chance the Thunder could beat the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors’ record of 73-9 this season, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a Finals win.
When the Warriors beat the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-10, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers came out on top in the 2016 NBA Finals. With that precedent in mind, the Thunder cannot afford complacency simply because they have been the strongest team in the regular season.