Expectations were high for the Oklahoma City Thunder before Chet Holmgren’s injury, but the early signs are positive.
They boast one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and although the Thunder are still rebuilding for the future, it doesn’t mean they’re not worth a bet online.
A starting lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, Darius Bazley, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is capable of sneaking into the playoffs if they play well as a team and continue to push forward.
Bookmakers don’t have high hopes and their odds shifted dramatically when it was learned that Holmgren would miss the season with a foot injury, but we don’t think they will tank. The young unit needs to get used to winning in preparation for years to come, so they’re an exciting team that could provide bettors with value in the Las Vegas odds.
Let’s check the latest NBA picks, stats, injury reports and NBA predictions. We’ve plenty of NBA expert picks for you to consider.
Also check on these NBA betting lines.
Oklahoma City Thunder Odds
- To win NBA championship +50000
- To win Western Conference +50000
- To win Northwest Division +20000
- To make playoffs Yes +1000/ No -4000
Player to Watch
Josh Giddey is our Thunder player to watch, and it’s not hard to see why. The Australian came on leaps and bounds last year and he’s turning into a young Steve Nash.
We believe he would have been much better equipped with Holmgren on the floor. It would have allowed him space to find open shots for the Thunder shooters. However, he’s a floor general and the guard could be in for another impressive year.
There isn’t really anyone ready to take over his spot, so he’s carrying a lot of pressure, but he could make a case for MVP if he excels. He’s also an excellent chance to improve his shooting numbers, so the sky is the limit.
- Player to Watch: Josh Giddey
Breakout Player
We expect to see Robinson-Earl on the court a lot more in 2022-23. The 2021 second-round draft pick averaged just over 22 minutes per game, but with Holmgren out, he should be a permanent fixture at center.
The Villanova alum averaged 7.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He should only improve with his rookie season under his belt and with Giddey giving him dimes in the paint, his average could exceed 10 points.
We liked what we saw in the preseason against the Suns and Jazz. He scored 14 and 18 points respectively on 71% shooting from 3-point range. If he continues that clip, he’s a dangerous player inside and out.
- Breakout Watch: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Thunder Outlook
The sportsbook doesn’t expect the Thunder to be competitive on any level in the NBA betting lines. However, they are a proud team and we think value is available.
The Western Conference isn’t as strong as it has been in past years, so the +1000 to make the playoffs is worth a nibble.
It’s another year of rebuilding, but they have enough pieces to make it work and we have no doubt they’ll have a positive points spread record. Here’s an NBA betting preview: Players should get value lines throughout the year.
