Okay, we're going to start this week's Bolts by ignoring that perplexing and frustrating loss to the Houston Rockets and start with a really nice feature by our old friend, Anthony Slater (The Athletic). Slater dives into how the Oklahoma City Thunder have already built a potential playoff team faster than expected.
The Thunder have only been out of the playoffs for two years. They had the league’s fourth-worst record both seasons. That produced Josh Giddey sixth overall in 2021 and Chet Holmgren second overall in 2022. Either may one day evolve into a superstar-level talent. But Gilgeous-Alexander already has, lessening the pressure on Giddey and Holmgren to pop as quickly or substantially.