Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder medical team has been one of the premiere units in the NBA ranking surrendering the fifth fewest games to injury or illness since the 2005-06 season. However, the last few seasons have been marred injury that stunted the team’s development. A broken foot for Chet Holmgren cost him the entire 2022-23 season and plantar fascia and quadriceps injuries prematurely ended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s season in back-to-back years.

However, the team and the medical staff returned to prominence last season, returning to the playoffs and finishing the year as the healthiest team in the NBA. Led by Vice President of Human and Player Performance Donnie Strack and Director of Athletic Training Tony Katzenmeier, OKC finished in the top spot for fewest games, salary dollars, and minutes per game lost. The sustained health allowed a young team to gain continuity as the five-man unit of SGA, Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Williams appeared in a league-best 63 games together and only trailed the five-man group from Denver in total on-court minutes shared.

Replicating those numbers will be nearly impossible with top draft pick Nikola Topic expected to miss the entire season recovering from ACL surgery. Furthermore, Kenrich Williams underwent knee surgery and offseason add Isaiah Hartenstein is also expected to miss time after breaking his hand in preseason action, further depleting the team’s depth. Still, the Thunder are expected to be one of the elite teams in the league and will remain there if Strack and company are once again able to keep their core on the floor.