The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are heavy favorites to repeat as NBA champions. However, the young squad insists they're not focused on pulling off the first back-to-back title since the Golden State Warriors won in 2017 and 2018.
Gilgeous-Alexander said that repeating as champions is "not much" of a motivating factor, adding that they're taking it one game at a time. The Thunder have the advantage in experience, with all of their championship squad still on board.
The team has been dominant all season, opening their campaign with a 24-1 start and closing it on a 19-3 run. They were challenged for the top seed by the San Antonio Spurs, but ultimately secured the number one spot in the Western Conference.
The Thunder have a strong defense, led by center Chet Holmgren, who averaged 17.1 points per game and 1.9 blocks per game. They also averaged 9.7 steals per game, making them a formidable opponent in the playoffs.
