After years of Thunder teams dominated by superstars, this season marked a sharp divergence from what had become OKC’s tried and true style of play. The your-turn, my-turn isolation approach from the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook eras was highly effective, but had also become highly predictable and familiar to opponents and fans alike. In contrast, the 2019-20 Oklahoma City lineup that has been as effective as any of those star-driven units (and the best in the NBA this season) is a dynamic, surprising mix of ball-handling, shooting, defense, and funky size.
The diversity doesn’t stop with the skills arrayed 1-5 from the group; each player hails from a different country:
- Chris Paul – USA
- Dennis Schröder – Germany
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Canada
- Danilo Gallinari – Italy
- Steven Adams – New Zealand