Rebuilding the Thunder and Our Own Lives

The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA Champions for the first time after winning at home in Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers 103-91. The story of their season was marked by dominance and the culmination of an impressive rebuild.

It's incredible what this team accomplished this season, winning a total of 84 games in the playoffs and regular season, tying the 1996-1997 Chicago Bulls for the third most in history.

The Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who became just the fourth NBA Player to win the scoring title, league MVP, and the NBA Finals MVP in the same season.

The key to appreciating what the Thunder have become is looking back at how this team was once at rock bottom, seeming far away from winning. In the 2020-2021 regular season, the team won 22 games after trading away its veteran stars and committing to a rebuild.

They followed that up with only 24 wins in the 2021-2022 season, then won 40 games, followed by 57, and then 68 in the most recent regular season.

They kept adding to their win total, but all along the way, they were in the process of rebuilding as General Manager Sam Presti successfully built a championship roster. Presti started with a vision of the type of players needed to win and the draft capital required to assemble the right team, operating with patience and boldness.

The rebuild officially began in 2019, as the roster was torn down when the team traded Paul George to the Clippers for a young prospect named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and draft picks, and subsequently traded Russell Westbrook to Houston for additional draft picks.

Throughout the rebuilding process, they maximized their opportunities in the draft, added more future picks through trades, and continued to strengthen their depth. The Thunder hit on draft picks with selections of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who were key contributors to this year's championship.

They also successfully traded for Alex Caruso, picked up undrafted Lu Dort, and signed free agent Isaiah Hartenstein, who were key role players throughout the season.

Two narratives now being discussed following their win on Sunday are that this is one of the greatest rebuilds in NBA history and that this team is set up to be a dynasty, with the foundation to continue winning for many years to come.

We'll see what happens, but my hope for us today is to use the Thunder's rebuild as inspiration while also unpacking the great rebuilding story of Nehemiah in the Bible.

In Nehemiah 1:3-4, this is what he was told (along with his response) regarding the state of Jerusalem after the Babylonians had conquered it and left it in ruins:

"'Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.' When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven."

After Nehemiah prayed, he went to the king to request permission and resources to lead the charge and rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 2:8, he says, "And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests."

Then Nehemiah went to Jerusalem to do what God had put on his heart. He explains to those who would be part of the work, "'...You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.'

"I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work" (Nehemiah 2:17-18; NIV).

As the story continues, Nehemiah faces opposition and challenges. However, in Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NIV) it tells us, "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God."

What we see from this story is how prayer and God-given vision led Nehemiah to take a step of faith and embrace the rebuilding process. He didn't want the situation to remain in ruins, so He trusted God and took action. In the end, God received the glory because it was impossible without His intervening, leading, and providing.

Today, if we find a particular aspect of our life in ruins, torn down, and needing a rebuild, let's be encouraged by Nehemiah to seek God in prayer, follow Him where He wants us to go, see the vision for what could be instead of what is, and then go one step at a time in faith trusting God to do the rebuilding for His glory.

Also, just like the Thunder's GM, Sam Presti, started the rebuild with a vision, operating with patience and boldness throughout the process that led to a championship, let's do the same as we see the vision God has for our lives, marriages, careers, families, and relationship with Him.

Let's approach this process with patience and boldness, knowing it's a victorious one, and remember that no matter how tough our situation appears, there is hope for a remarkable rebuild amidst the ruins.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I trust You will meet me in my brokenness and rebuild the areas of my life that are in ruins. I know that nothing is impossible for You, and I pray You will receive all the glory as I trust You each step of the way. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.