Following their remarkable 68-win season and championship victory, there are compelling reasons to believe that the Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to perform even better in the upcoming year, writes Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated.

The core of the team remains largely intact, with 14 players from the championship roster returning for another campaign. The only roster change involves the addition of first-round draft pick Thomas Sorber, who replaces Dillon Jones on the 15-man squad.

The Thunder stand to gain significantly from the continued growth and development of their youthful roster, many of whom have already shown promising progress.

Moreover, the team will welcome back Nikola Topic, their 2024 lottery selection, who missed the entire previous season due to injury but is expected to contribute actively this time around.

Adding to their potential advantages, several other title contenders appear to have weakened or regressed in the offseason, which could smooth the Thunder’s journey through the regular season and improve their chances of maintaining their championship form.

Thunder Notes: Ring Night, Durant, Hartenstein, Sorber https://t.co/g1RoSSWh7j pic.twitter.com/IljwCLTfXR