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Win-loss record: 21-12 (3rd in West)
After losing to the Utah Jazz in the first round of the NBA playoffs 2018, the Oklahoma City Thunder entered this season with a bolstered roster. They traded Carmelo Anthony and acquired Dennis Schroder who has been brilliant as back up point guard and is running the position to perfection.
After losing their first four games, the Thunder went on a seven-game win streak and they are currently at the third spot in Western Conference standings. They are also currently the team with the best defensive rating.
In case you were sleeping on the Thunder before the start of the season, don't do that anymore as they are definitely looking like they are built to win it all this season. In this article, let us take a look at the top three players who helped the Thunder the most this season.
#3 Steven Adams
Stats: 16.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 59.5 % shooting
From the day he entered the league, Steven Adams has only improved year after year and has now become one of the top five centers in the league. He has mastered the pick-and-roll with Russell Westbrook and is a serious threat in the paint.
Adams has always been someone who you can rely on and has rarely failed to make an impact on the team. In his sixth year with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Kiwi is averaging career-high numbers in all the statistical categories and is using his strength and height to irritate even the best of the offensive players.
With 4.9 offensive rebounds per game, Adams is currently at #4 on the list of most offensive rebounds per game this season. He is also averaging close to a double-double this season. In the road game against Sacramento Kings last week, the 25-year-old had a standout performance with 20 points and season-high 23 rebounds.
#2 Russell Westbrook
Stats: 20.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 2.7 steals per game on 42.2 % shooting
In 2017-18, Russell Westbrook became the first NBA player to average a triple-double in back-to-back seasons. He entered this season with reduced burden on his shoulders as the Thunder traded for one of the best point guards in the league, Dennis Schroder.
Westbrook missed six games so far this season due to a sprained ankle but otherwise looked healthy and with Schroder being terrific for the team, it is giving Russ some breathing space. He is currently on course to average a triple-double over the entire season for the third straight year. However, he is averaging just above 20 points per game this season after averaging 25.4 points per game last season.
Even though 'The Brodie' has been great at attacking the rim and at finding ways to score baskets, he is still struggling to shoot from the three-point line. He is shooting at a poor 24.8 % from long range and is having his worst season from distance. The turnovers stat also continues to haunt him as he is currently second behind James Harden in turnovers per game with 4.6.
After shooting just 73.7 % from the free-throw line last year, Westbrook continues to struggle from the charity stripe as he is only shooting 61.0 % this year and this is definitely an area of concern for the Thunder.
#1 Paul George
Stats: 26.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals per game on 45.2 % shooting
Paul George has been the best player for the Thunder this season. When Westbrook went down due to injury, he led the Thunder to victories and held the team together. George is also leading the Thunder in points per game this season.
He is having arguably the best season of his career and is averaging career-high numbers. After an impressive debut season with the Thunder last year, he has taken his game to the next level and is the main reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently at the third spot in West.
The 5-time All-Star is also second behind 'The Brodie' in steals per game with 2.2 and is bringing the best two-way monster out every single night and is going on a tear this season. Paul George was recently named the Western Conference Player of the Week 10 after averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists per game.
George has also been terrific from the three-point land and is knocking them down at high accuracy from long range. He is expected to make it to the All-Star Game this year for the sixth time in his career and will be interesting to see how he performs in the playoffs this year.
