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Super teams and dynasties are becoming increasingly difficult to build in the NBA. Adjustments to the CBA and implementing the second apron to the salary cap in 2024 permanently altered championship roster construction, which makes the Oklahoma City Thunder’s bid for back-to-back titles this season so fascinating.
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After steamrolling the NBA with 68 regular-season victories and a championship last season, the Thunder find themselves atop BetMGM’s preseason odds to win the NBA Finals. Thanks to a roster that mostly stays the same, Oklahoma City gets an honest crack at becoming the league’s first back-to-back champions since Golden State in 2017 and 2018.
Standing in Oklahoma City’s way is a loaded Western Conference — which includes seven of the top 10 title contenders in the odds.
Thunder favored to repeat
Maintaining the same number since opening, the Thunder (+240) possess a rare combination of star power, depth, balance and postseason experience. Oklahoma City ranked in the top three in offensive rating (third) and defensive rating (first) last season and did so with a young roster with additional room to develop.
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