OKC Thunder Game Review and Preview

The launch of NBA 2K is one of the most anticipated events each year leading up to the start of the NBA regular season. On September 6, NBA 2K25 will officially launch to the public, kicking off the excitement around the world for the 2024-25 season. The game’s launch each summer allows fans to play with new rosters from their favorite teams and see what the league landscape could look like.

As NBA 2K has evolved over the years, the latest version brings many improvements, but also the best of the previous versions. In addition to the standard quick play, players can play their favorite modes, including MyCAREER, MyNBA, MyGM, MyTeam, and more.

Overall, the game itself is definitely the most realistic to date. The fluidity of play on the pitch is unparalleled, with several key improvements to ensure the product looks and feels exactly like a live game in real life. Not only do players have shooting mechanics that reflect reality, but their dribbling and celebrations are just as realistic. The same goes for the more advanced game modes. The gameplay and off-pitch scenes are well-edited and of great quality.

When it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the game really highlights what makes this young, up-and-coming team so special. The Thunder boast five of the game’s top 100 players and have proven to be one of the best teams in NBA 2K25. When playing Oklahoma City at home, the detail in the Paycom Center is much improved over the previous version of the game,

Much like in real life, the Thunder roster in NBA 2K25 is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the fourth-best player in the entire game with a 96 rating. After finishing second in MVP voting last season, he has solidified his place as a clear top-five player in the league.

But at what point could Gilgeous-Alexander be considered as a cover athlete? NBA 2K25 features Jayson Tatum on the standard edition cover, but don’t be surprised if the Thunder star has a real chance in the next few years to see himself as a featured athlete in the game.

“I would say he’s a future cover athlete, hopefully one day,” Ronnie told 2K Thunder at SI last week ahead of NBA 2K25’s launch. “The guys we’re working with are guys who are authentic gamers and 2K historians. He’s a pleasure to work with, a really good guy, and obviously he aligns with a lot of the things we align with, which is fashion and music.”

What stands out the most when playing with Gilgeous-Alexander is how realistic his movements are. His signature shots are very impressive, but the way he moves around the court, drives the ball and changes direction is as good as a video game can get. This is thanks to the latest gameplay enhancements via ProPLAY, a groundbreaking 2K technology that translates authentic movements from real NBA footage into immersive gameplay that includes an expanded animation library for the most realistic 2K basketball experience.

One of the most popular topics of conversation heading into the 2024-25 season is who will be playing for the Thunder. While it’s not a guarantee, 2K25 is assuming Alex Caruso will step into the starting lineup and fill the void left by Josh Giddey, who he was traded for.

Once again, Oklahoma City has five players in the top 100 of the game, but they have a ton of depth throughout the roster. Six players have ratings above 80, which is extremely impressive and speaks to how good the Thunder should be this season.

Behind Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren should be on the cusp of stardom this season. One of the best features of NBA 2K25 when it comes to Williams and his rise is the addition of his signature 3-point celebration. The gameplay, powered by ProPLAY, introduces 9,000 new animations to NBA2K25, drawing from real NBA footage to seamlessly translate real NBA moments into authentic gameplay. One of those animations is Williams holding up three fingers to his forehead, something Thunder fans saw multiple times last season.

Holmgren is Oklahoma City’s second-best player at launch with an 87 rating. The 7-footer is known for his elite rim protection on defense, but he also has the ability to step out and stretch the floor, making him one of the most fun centers to play in NBA 2K25.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about players getting their hands on NBA 2K25 is the opportunity to play as the Thunder’s two newest players, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Both players are shaping up to be incredibly important players for OKC this season, and this game is the first real chance to see what they could look like on the court with their newest teammates, considering they won’t make their Thunder debuts until next month during the preseason.

Overall, early NBA 2K25 gameplay has been incredibly impressive. Not only are the Thunder one of the most exciting teams to play, but every game mode — including the standard on-court gameplay — has seen significant improvements and refinements. As the season approaches and the 2024-25 campaign continues, more content will be added to the game, and ratings will continue to adjust in real time.

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