OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MAY 18: Cason Wallace #22 celebrates with Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
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The preseason is an interesting time in the NBA’s yearly cycle. It’s an important stretch as teams build cohesion and chemistry while evaluating up-and-coming players and seeing what kind of leaps existing players have made over the summer.
But sometimes it ends up not mattering a whole lot, and that’s the tricky part of the preseason. There’s a lot to take away from these games, but have to really try to interpret what’s actually translatable to the regular season.
For the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, there have been a few interesting things that have come out of the preseason thus far. The team has one game remaining in its six-game slate, but to this point, here are the things that have stuck out most that could be somewhat translatable for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign as Oklahoma City looks to repeat.
Hartenstein’s Perimeter Shooting Volume
First, Isaiah Hartenstein’s 3-point shooting. He’s a guy that, interestingly enough, began his career as a bit of a stretch big. He was a G League player who bounced around and ultimately broke out with the New York Knicks a couple seasons ago, which earned him a lucrative contract to come bolster the Oklahoma City frontcourt. But the 3-point shot for him at the NBA level has never consistently been there.
In fact, he’s converted on just 27 three-pointers in his entire seven-year NBA career, and 22 of those came between 2021 and 2023. Over the last two years, which have really been his best seasons in the league, he’s made one. He went 1-for-3 two years ago with the Knicks, then 0-for-19 with the Thunder last season. Given he only took 19 threes across 57 games, the volume was extremely low. Most games, he didn’t take a three at all.
In the preseason, though, he’s taken a couple per game. While he hasn’t converted them at a high rate, the volume is interesting. It could just be a preseason wrinkle — maybe the staff is trying to see what he looks like as a shooter in live action — and he may end up not taking or making many this season. But it’s at least a notable trend that looks different from last year.
Wallace Being the Organic Growth Engine
The next theme is Cason Wallace’s leap. Entering his second year, Wallace is already one of the premier defenders in the NBA. He played a huge role in the Thunder’s championship run last season, but again, this is just his second year — he’s still scratching the surface of what he can be. Since Oklahoma City hasn’t played its top guys in the majority of preseason minutes, Wallace has had the opportunity to go back to being a facilitator and fill the point guard role he had at the college and high school levels, being more of a primary piece.
He’s looked really good. And while teams around the Western Conference have inorganically improved this offseason, the Thunder are relying entirely on organic growth given they’re running back essentially the exact same roster. What’s not being talked about enough is a guy like Wallace having a year one to year two leap, and the signs are there in the preseason. He was already a top six or seven player on this team last year, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he becomes a bona fide starting-caliber player this season. Whether he ends up in the starting lineup or not, he’s already a top-100 player in the NBA.
Williams’ Wrist Recovery Timeline
The third thing to note is that Jalen Williams has not played at all in the preseason. It’s still unclear whether he’ll be able to suit up and play on opening night against the Houston Rockets next week. We’re just days away from that season opener, when the Thunder players will get their rings from last season’s championship. Williams could end up being completely fine and ready to go for the opener, and the team could just holding him out to give him more time to rest and recover. But it’s still worth noting that he didn’t play a single minute or suit up once.
There’s still no definitive answer on his timeline — whether that’s Tuesday, or a few weeks into the season. Even on the bench in street clothes, there were times he didn’t seem to have full functionality in his wrist. It’ll be something to monitor moving forward.
Two-Way Contributions
The final thing to note from the preseason thus far is that the two-way players are here to contribute. This Thunder team is 15 players deep on full-time NBA contracts, and all 15 of them are legitimate NBA-caliber players who can be trusted in high-leverage moments. But even the two-way guys this year are talented enough to make an impact.
Branden Carlson is back as a shot-blocking, floor-spacing center. Brooks Barnhizer, the Thunder’s second-round pick in the recent draft, already looks like a player who can contribute meaningful minutes as a rookie hard-nosed defender who makes effort plays and impacts the game beyond the box score.
And then there’s a third open two-way roster spot, which Chris Youngblood appears to be in line to fill. He’s been unbelievable not only in the preseason but also in NBA Summer League. He’s a quick-trigger shooter with a sturdy frame and plenty of experience.
The Thunder’s two-way players holistically look ready to play real minutes this season and make an actual impact, which has really stood out during the preseason.
In short, those are the primary themes and trends of the preseason so far with one game remaining. It’s yet to be seen which of these trends will carry into the regular season, but that 82-game stretch starts Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.
The NBA is officially almost back.