Inside The Thunder

Thunder Rising Stars Spotted at OU Sooners Football Game

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren attended the Oklahoma Sooners SEC Opener against the Tennessee Volunteers.

Rylan Stiles

Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (1) scores a touchdown in front of Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Kani Walker (26) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (1) scores a touchdown in front of Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Kani Walker (26) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen their star power rise in recent years as they return to title contention behind a truly electrifying young core headlined by superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

Mixing them with the amount of depth the Thunder have, the reigning coach of the year and the top executive in the sport was good enough to net Oklahoma City 57 wins a year ago landing as the No. 1 seed out West before falling in the second round of the NBA Playoffs in six games to the Dallas Mavericks.

Their first playoff series win since 2016 - and just the second sweep in team history - propelled the Thunder brass to make win-now moves this offseason inking Isaiah Hartenstein to a massive three year pact and swapping Josh Giddey out for Alex Caruso on the trade market.

These changes have made the Thunder the favorites to win the West and a popular pick to win the NBA Finals, rightfully so. Though, OKC is not the only team dealing with change.

The Oklahoma Sooners embark on a new journey entering College Football's most elite conference - the South Eastern Conference - the sports blue blood played their first game in the SEC on Saturday against a fellow rich history team, the Tennessee Volunteers.

In his historic clash of titans, the Thunder's dynamic duo of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams were each in attendance as they returned to market in preparation for training camp, which tips off with media day on Sept. 30.

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Rylan Stiles

RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network. 

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