The Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to be one of the best teams in basketball for the second straight season. After improving by 15 wins in two consecutive years, the Thunder were a 57-win team last year, securing first place in the Western Conference before being ousted by the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the NBA playoffs.

Entering the 2024–25 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win the Western Conference, with a win percentage of 56.5. Many expect the Thunder to be a star team this season, featured all over national NBA television schedules.

On Thursday, the NBA schedule leaked out, and Shams Charania of the Athletic surprisingly reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder would be removed from the NBA’s Christmas schedule – after all, the best team from the West is not playing on the most important day of the regular season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were left off the roster in favor of seven other Western Conference teams – a ridiculous oversight by league officials for which there is no real excuse.

Considering the OKC Thunder have a player in their ranks in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who has finished in the top five for the MVP award two years in a row, as well as two rising stars in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, a full rotation of quality players, and the Coach of the Year on the sidelines, this decision is shocking to say the least.

It’s not that the Thunder lack drama or excitement. The Thunder easily could have slotted into the annual 11:00 a.m. CT slot against the New York Knicks after poaching big man Isaiah Hartenstein as a free agent.

A rematch of last season’s competitive second-round series would have kept Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in that coveted spot, the top three teams in the Western Conference last year all hail from the same division, making a matchup between the Thunder and Minnesota or Denver enticing. Not to mention the NBA’s new favorite rivalry, which even saw Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama square off against each other the last two seasons to spice up the preseason.

Whether you prefer the old school version of Warriors-Thunder against the new school, a duel of LeBron against the rookies, the homecoming of Paul George or a duel of the two favorites for the NBA Finals, there was room for the OKC Thunder on the Christmas Day schedule.

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