OKC Thunder 2024-25 schedule breakdown: NBA spotlight hits Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co.
The Thunder, thrust to the NBA’s forefront by a 57-win season, is challenging the league’s algorithm for commercial success and contention — again.
An organically grown MVP runner-up in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; A couple of co-stars plucked from the same draft class in Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams; Role players like Alex Caruso and assets like OKC’s bevy of draft picks, acquired through finesse to pad OKC’s path.
Perhaps the league didn’t expect to promote the Thunder so soon after two dreadful post-bubble seasons. But OKC is seemingly back to contention, and its TV slate — though not as glamorous and inviting as that of the Lakers or Warriors — mostly agrees.
The NBA unveiled the full 2024-25 schedule on Thursday and Oklahoma City is set to play 25 nationally televised games: Nine games on ESPN, five on TNT, one on ABC and 10 on NBA TV.
Excluding the 10 games on NBA TV, only three of the Thunder’s remaining 15 national TV games will be held in Oklahoma City (Oct. 30 versus the Spurs, Nov. 13 versus the Pelicans and March 9 versus the Nuggets).
Despite a promising core and a season in which it became the youngest ever No. 1 seed, there are still clear marketing differences OKC is trying to make up for. The Thunder won’t be featured on opening day, Christmas Day, or MLK Day.
Still, the Thunder will see a lot more TV than it did a year ago.
Here are two more takeaways from the Thunder's 82-game slate:
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Back-to-back pain
With great power comes great responsibility. And apparently a grueling schedule.
In the Thunder’s case, that includes 16 back-to-backs, up from 14 a season ago. OKC joins the Pelicans, Suns, Cavaliers, Bucks, Nuggets and Clippers for the most playoff team back-to-backs.
OKC’s first back-to-back comes as early as the first week of the season, a trip to Chicago followed by hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 27 in the Thunder’s home opener. Its next comes as soon as the second week of the season, a two-game road trip that takes the Thunder to Portland and then Los Angeles to face the Clippers in their brand new Intuit Dome on Nov. 2.
In total, OKC’s back-to-back slate features four home/home stints, three road/road stints, four home/road stints and five road/home stints.
Among the most notable are two against Western Conference powerhouses: A road/home back-to-back against the Timberwolves on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24, capping off a four-game season series that takes place entirely in a month-long span, and a home/home stint against the Nuggets on March 9 and March 10.
More: OKC Thunder schedule for 2024-25 NBA season begins at Denver Nuggets: See every game, date
A trying March
The league’s challenge of the Thunder’s contender status doesn’t begin or end with its endless amount of back-to-backs.
Similar to last January, the Thunder can circle a month on the calendar when it’ll truly need to find its legs.
In March, OKC will play a season-high 16 games. That begins with an ESPN game in San Antonio, which is followed by the Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back.
Among the road games OKC will play in March are games against the Grizzlies, Celtics, Bucks, Clippers and Kings. Other games include hosting the Grizzlies, the Nuggets twice for the aforementioned back-to-back, the 76ers and the Pacers.
The month-long stretch comes just a week after a two-week February span in which the Thunder plays the Timberwolves three times.
More: NBA schedule release: Time, dates for OKC Thunder in 2024 Emirates NBA Cup
Notable dates in OKC Thunder 2024-25 schedule:
Season opener at Nuggets on Oct. 24
Reunion with Josh Giddey’s Bulls on Oct. 26
Home opener vs Hawks on Oct. 27
First game vs Spurs on Oct. 30
First game vs Mavericks on Nov. 17
First game vs Timberwolves on Dec. 31
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder schedule breakdown: NBA national TV games aplenty in force
