The Oklahoma City Thunder are on pace to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the second season in a row and have received the backing of former NBA center and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins.
The Thunder are led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who proved his worth yet again to lead Oklahoma City past the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 130-123 thriller over the weekend.
Kendrick Perkins Predicts Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025 NBA Finals
In the win, Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 37 points on 13 for 24 shooting from the field, with eight rebounds and eight assists. It was a battle for Oklahoma, one it hadn’t had in a while, but the Thunder eventually emerged as six players registered double-digit scores, including 19 from Chet Holmgren and 18 from Jalen Williams.
Perkins was speaking on ESPN’s NBA Countdown and backed the Thunder to reach the NBA Finals. He highlighted Gilgeous-Alexander as a key factor in Oklahoma City’s potential run to the NBA Finals, arguing that he could lead them to win in any seven-game series.
“Whoever don’t feel OKC, I feel sorry for your loss, ’cause they’re going to the NBA Finals,” Perkins said. “This team checked all the boxes. They have SGA, a bonafide superstar, who could be the best player in any seven-game series against any other player in the league. They strap a defensively, they are the No.1 defensive team in the league.”
“Whoever don’t feel OKC, I feel sorry for your loss, ‘cause they’re going to the NBA Finals.” –Kendrick Perkins@KendrickPerkins and @stephenasmith debate how far the Thunder will make it in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/OwXRcLk8q4
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 24, 2025
When co-host Stephen A. Smith pointed out the Thunder’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the semifinals last year, Perkins cited the example of Kevin Durant led-Thunder teams of the early 2010s, arguing it was a learning example for them.
“Remember the young Oklahoma City Thunder team with KD, Serge (Ibaka), and James Harden?” Perkins said. “They lost to the Lakers, right? They had to learn through playoff experience. … You’re learning, they know. They know!”
The Thunder have a 46-10 record in 56 games and have easily defeated some big teams this season, including the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks by double digits. It’s the second-best record in the NBA this season, only behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have played one extra game (47-10).
But the biggest factor supporting Perkins’ prediction is the Thunder’s staggering point differential.
In the 55-game stretch, they outscored their opponents by a massive 12.9 points per game, making them the most dominant team in NBA history. Cleveland is the next-best team this season with 10.8 points, while the 1972 Lakers, at 12.3, are the second-best in history.
