Thunder unveil unique starting lineup in season opener

The Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to be an NBA contender in the 2024-25 NBA season. However, the Thunder were plagued by the threat of injury right from the start. Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are each out with injuries sustained before the start of preseason, while Isaiah Hartenstein is out for five to six weeks with a hand injury sustained during the friendly. This follows Nikola Topic missing all season with an ACL injury before the Thunder used the No. 12 pick at point guard in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Oklahoma City didn't have to deal with many injuries a year ago, but early on it will be difficult for the Thunder to overcome their thin frontcourt against a big Denver Nuggets team. Especially playing in the ball arena and fighting the heights.

The Thunder will keep their options open in the top five all year long, whether healthy or not, as backup coach Mark Daigneault explained this morning in Denver.

“The start of the season will be fluid and that was always the plan. This also includes the starting lineups. This also includes the halftime lineups. It includes rotations. “I don’t expect anything you see tonight to be set in stone,” Daigneault said at Thursday’s Shoot Around.

For the season opener against the Denver Nuggets, the Thunder will field a starting lineup consisting of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

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