The NBA landscape has been irrevocably altered. A quiet, disciplined, and ruthlessly efficient machine has rolled into the league and is not just winning games—it is dismantling the competitive structure of professional basketball. That machine is the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With a historic start that has seen them reach an unbelievable record, currently standing at 24-1, the Thunder have moved beyond the realm of “title favorites” and entered the conversation of “greatest team of all time.” By winning at least 21 of their first 22 games, OKC joined a sacred, rarefied list of teams, including the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, the dynasty that finished 72-10 and lifted the trophy. They also sit alongside the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, the squad that set the all-time record with 73 wins.
The fact that this young Thunder group has already entered such elite company is the headline, but the underlying numbers scream an even more terrifying truth: they are not just aiming for a championship; they are on pace to shatter the 73-win record and reach the unthinkable 74 wins.
The Engine of Unprecedented Dominance
In the NBA, the championship chase is measured by efficiency, and in that metric, the Thunder are operating in a league of their own. They currently lead the entire NBA in Defensive Rating, locking teams down to a suffocating 105.2 points per 100 possessions. This is not just leading the league; it is a staggering 6.4 points less than the next best team. This defense is a masterpiece of chaos and energy [02:32], with players jumping lanes, snatching passes, and flying everywhere, fueling savage 12-0 runs that crush the will of opponents.
But the most compelling argument for their historic status is the Net Rating, which sits at a mind-blowing 15.0. To put this in perspective, this figure would absolutely destroy the old record of 13.4 set by the legendary 1995-96 Bulls [02:55]. Last season, the Thunder already posted the second-best mark ever at 12.8, and somehow, this young squad has found a way to level up again. This 15.0 Net Rating shows they aren’t just winning; they are outscoring opponents at a rate that is historically unmatched. As the transcript notes, even the 73-win Warriors didn’t hold the best Net Rating in their historic season; the Thunder truly stand alone at the top right now, with no team even looking close [03:34].
The Commander: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP Leap
Driving this unstoppable machine is the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), a superstar in full command of his powers [03:57]. SGA has logged his 94th straight 20-point game, a streak second only to the mythical 126-game run of Wilt Chamberlain. This is not just consistency; it is madness [04:26].
What’s truly wild is that despite already winning the MVP award last season, SGA has somehow found a way to level up his game in every single way—shooting, passing, and efficiency [04:32]. His mid-range jumper is “butter,” his three-ball is clean, and his drives to the rim are ruthless, drawing fouls and creating plays even when defenses throw double teams and traps at him [04:47].
The most telling sign of the team’s dominance, however, is the superstar’s reduced workload. Through 22 games, the reigning MVP has literally sat out 10 fourth quarters [12:50]. That’s nearly half of them. The games are often done by the end of the third period, a testament to the fact that the Thunder are blowing teams off the floor so fast that SGA doesn’t even need to close out. The rest of the league’s best players must fight tooth and nail until the final buzzer; SGA is chilling [00:16].
The Quiet Monster: Chet Holmgren’s Emergence
While SGA commands the headlines, the Thunder’s historic run is being cemented by the quiet, terrifying growth of Chet Holmgren. The seven-foot-one big man has been a “quiet monster” who is absolutely essential to the team’s success [08:44]. Holmgren is averaging 18.4 points, 8 rebounds, and leads the team in blocks, not just protecting the paint but stretching the floor and punishing switches with elite efficiency [08:52].
Holmgren’s 56% shooting from the field is insane efficiency for a sophomore big man [09:13]. Even more critically, he showed tremendous dedication by dramatically improving his free-throw shooting, leaping from 75.4% last year to 81% this year [09:20].
This improvement was tested immediately. When Jalen Williams, the team’s clear number two option fresh off his first All-Star selection, missed the first 19 games with a torn wrist ligament [06:48], Holmgren stepped seamlessly into that number two role like he was born for it [09:51]. Confident, poised, and dangerous, Holmgren’s leap provided the necessary production to sustain the Thunder’s historic pace, making him SGA’s reliable scoring partner night after night.
The Unstoppable Depth and Culture
The Thunder’s resilience in the face of Jalen Williams’ injury is perhaps the most frightening indicator of their depth. While Williams focused on training his off-hand jumper out of frustration and boredom during his rehabilitation [07:02], the front office once again struck gold with a diamond in the rough: AJ Mitchell.
The 23-year-old guard, acquired in a small trade, became a revelation, averaging 15.9 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals in Williams’ absence [07:18]. This “pure production from a guy most teams overlooked” highlights the front office’s unparalleled eye for talent.
When you add this offensive depth to a truly nightmarish defensive core, the picture becomes clear. The backcourt is locked down by Lou Dort, Kase Wallace, and Alex Caruso, who “don’t just guard you; they smother you” [07:43]. Every possession against them feels like survival. Aaron Wiggins serves as the ultimate plug-and-play weapon, adding results without ego [07:58].
This depth is guided by Head Coach Mark Daigneault, who enforces a culture of “pure discipline” and zero complacency. After their 21st win, Daigneault dropped a line that has become the team’s DNA: “All the stuff we’ve done well to this point doesn’t carry over. Tonight’s a new opportunity. The better team tonight will win” [06:01]. This mindset doesn’t just win; it multiplies success, steamrolling opponents and preventing any hint of entitlement or championship hangover [11:15].
The team is also built on supreme efficiency, ranking second in the league in turnover percentage and first in turnovers forced [11:35]. They protect the ball while snatching it from you, creating offensive avalanches that cause entire teams to crumble.
The Terrifying Future
The most chilling fact for the rest of the NBA is that this historic dominance is coming from the sixth-youngest team in the league, with an average age of just 24 and a half [11:56]. They are this good this early. They have already mastered the blueprint for success and are built to stay on top for years. Last year, OKC became the second-youngest championship team in NBA history [14:06], and they have somehow gotten even deeper since then.
The treasure chest is still overflowing. The Thunder still have two top 15 draft picks on the roster who haven’t even played this season due to injuries [14:16]. That’s almost unfathomable talent waiting in the wings.
Furthermore, the general manager’s masterful asset accumulation continues to bear fruit. Thanks to the 2019 Paul George trade, the Thunder still own the Clippers’ right to swap picks with Houston in the 2026 NBA draft [14:37]. With the Clippers stumbling out to their worst start since 2010-11, that unprotected swap could be gold, potentially landing OKC another top-three pick [14:52]. They also hold Utah’s first-round pick (top eight protected) and Philly’s 2026 first-round pick (top four protected), meaning another wave of blue-chip talent is headed to a team that already has no space for it [15:00].
This isn’t a rebuilding squad anymore; it’s a machine [15:36]. Over the last four seasons, OKC has posted a 69% win rate, trailing only the Boston Celtics, who have made two Finals appearances and won a title during that stretch [15:44]. The Thunder didn’t cheat the system; they mastered it. They stayed patient, developed their guys the right way, and made brilliant moves [16:05].
Now, the rest of the NBA has to face the music. This isn’t just a hot start; it’s the scariest rebuild-to-superpower transformation the league has ever seen [16:32]. They have the MVP, the defense, the depth, and possibly three more lottery picks on the way. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t just the future—they are the present, and they are rewriting NBA history right now. The climb to 74 wins won’t be smooth, but if they want to flirt with it, there is zero room for complacency [10:05]. And as Daigneault would say, for the Thunder, the challenge is the beauty.
