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2012-13 NBA Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Updated: October 21, 2012
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
HOW THEY CAN WIN: Kevin Durant is out for blood. The three-time defending scoring champion (28 ppg last season) has the crunch-time chops, MJ-like fire, and stone-cold determination necessary to will a team to an NBA championship. His example has rubbed off on teammates. Deep down, Durant is angry that the Lakers are getting so much preseason attention, and he will make it a point to remind everyone that OKC is still the defending Western Conference champion.
WHAT COULD STOP THEM: The Lakers. OKC is going to hear all season long about how great L.A. is. While that might serve as motivation, the Thunder are still going to have to figure out a way to outgun all of those stars. Westbrook and Durant will have to be on the same page, and Harden can’t wilt under the pressure like he did last season. The Thunder will also rely heavily on Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka, who will be counted on to slow down Howard and Gasol.
FINAL DESTINATION: We think it will be the NBA title. OKC has been through the requisite heartbreak, and now understands exactly what it takes to win the whole thing. James Harden will be ready to avenge his awful Finals performance last season, and Durant will be in rare form. You can take L.A. or Miami, we’ve got OKC.
OUR CALL: 63-19.
| TEAM ROSTER | |||||||
| NO. | NAME | POS | AGE | HT | WT | COLLEGE | 2012-2013 SALARY |
| 45 | Cole Aldrich | C | 23 | 6-11 | 240 | Kansas | $2,445,480 |
| 4 | Nick Collison | PF | 31 | 6-10 | 255 | Kansas | $2,929,332 |
| 14 | Daequan Cook | SG | 25 | 6-5 | 210 | Ohio State | $3,090,942 |
| 35 | Kevin Durant | SF | 24 | 6-9 | 235 | Texas | $16,669,629 |
| 13 | James Harden | SG | 23 | 6-5 | 220 | Arizona State | $5,820,417 |
| 11 | Lazar Hayward | SF | 25 | 6-6 | 225 | Marquette | $1,174,080 |
| 9 | Serge Ibaka | PF | 23 | 6-10 | 235 | $2,253,062 | |
| 15 | Reggie Jackson | PG | 22 | 6-3 | 208 | Boston College | $1,208,400 |
| 3 | Perry Jones III | SF | 21 | 6-11 | 235 | Baylor | $1,035,960 |
| 25 | DeAndre Liggins | SG | 24 | 6-6 | 209 | Kentucky | $762,195 |
| 6 | Eric Maynor | PG | 25 | 6-3 | 175 | Virginia Commonwealth | $2,338,721 |
| 33 | Daniel Orton | C | 22 | 6-10 | 255 | Kentucky | $854,389 |
| 5 | Kendrick Perkins | C | 27 | 6-10 | 270 | $7,800,531 | |
| 8 | Andy Rautins | SG | 25 | 6-4 | 190 | Syracuse | $788,872 |
| 23 | Walker Russell | PG | 30 | 6-0 | 175 | Jacksonville State | $374,300 |
| 2 | Thabo Sefolosha | SG | 28 | 6-7 | 215 | $3,600,000 | |
| 34 | Hasheem Thabeet | C | 25 | 7-3 | 263 | Connecticut | $1,200,000 |
| 21 | Hollis Thompson | SF | 21 | 6-8 | 212 | Georgetown | $473,604 |
| 0 | Russell Westbrook | PG | 23 | 6-3 | 187 | UCLA | $13,668,793 |
| Coach: Scott Brooks |
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