The OKC Thunder head into the season as defending champions with remarkable continuity. As things currently stand, the ball club is bringing back a roster filled with players who logged 99.2 percent of the team’s playoff minutes last year.
Without question, this kind of continuity matters and is a great sign for things to come. However, for this roster, the single, organizing truth is depth.
Depth is a structural advantage, not a feel-good narrative. Last season, the Thunder’s title run hinged on timely contributions from role players like Isaiah Joe, who popped for heat-check shooting nights, Aaron Wiggins, who delivered late-game scoring, and Alex Caruso, whose defensive activity changed possessions.