Yardbarker
x
The Thunder’s Dominance is Sustainable Long Term
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Thunder’s Dominance is Sustainable Long Term

Originally posted on The Lead  |  By Brandon Scobey  |  Last updated Nov 20, 2025 7:05 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to come back down to earth. 

After their stunning championship run a year ago, the youngest team ever to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, many thought regression was inevitable. Instead, 13 games into the 2025-26 season, the Thunder are 12-1, sitting atop the Western Conference and making it clear last year was only the beginning.

Isaiah Joe has missed five games, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso have each missed four, and Jalen Williams, their do-it-all wing and second-leading scorer last season, has yet to play a single minute. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of spectacular, averaging more than 30 points per game while sitting out the entire fourth quarter in half of Oklahoma City’s wins. That’s how efficient and ruthless the Thunder have been. The game is often over before it even reaches clutch time.

SGA’s mastery of pace and poise sets the tone for everything this team does. His ability to slice defenses apart, hit midrange daggers, and get to the free-throw line at will remains elite. But what separates the Thunder from the rest of the league isn’t just Shai, it’s how seamlessly everyone around him fits.

Then there’s the context and the history. Only two teams in NBA history have started 7-0 in back-to-back seasons: the 1960s Boston Celtics and the mid-1990s Houston Rockets. Both won championships in each of those years. 

Now, the Thunder have joined that company, and they’re the defending champs themselves.

Thunder’s Dominant defense.

Their 15.54 margin of victory, just 15 games into the season, is outpacing what they did a year ago (12.87).

They’re fourth in opponent turnover rate. They’re still first in points off turnovers. And they’ve improved to the fifth-best defensive rebounding team. It all adds up to the Thunder only allowing 103.2points per 100 possessions. That’s a whole two possessions (6.3 points) better than the second-ranked Denver Nuggets defense.

The Thunder are doing all of this while missing their second-best player, Jalen Williams. He has yet to make his season debut as he recovers from a wrist injury. Lu Dort has missed six games. Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso have both missed four games.

Cason Wallace is making a big case for making an all-defensive team this season. With Dort out, he’s been tested by guarding the team’s best players night in and night out, and he’s passing with flying colors. He currently leads the league in steals, averaging 2.3 a game.

Securing Extensions That Define the Future

If last season proved the Thunder could win, this offseason proved they plan to keep winning.

Oklahoma City’s front office ensured that its trio of stars, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, will remain together for the long haul.

Depth That Makes the Difference

Beyond the stars, the Thunder’s role players make the system sustainable. Cason Wallace’s energy and Aaron Wiggins’s consistency have turned them into indispensable contributors. Much of that success stems from OKC’s use of the G-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, as a development hub. Prospects gain real minutes, learn the system, and return ready to contribute, a process that ensures the team never relies solely on its top names.

That depth will be vital early this season as injuries test the rotation. OKC’s player-first culture ensures every individual feels ready to step up when called upon, exactly the kind of resilience that dynasties are built on.

Ajay Mitchell has taken these opportunities and run with them. So far this season, he’s averaging 16.3 points a game along with 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists. With injuries to Lugentz Dort and Jalen Williams, he’s stepped up big time as another lead ball handler, a role the Thunder have been looking to fill alongside Williams and SGA.

This team has the perfect blend of continuity and hunger. They’ve been through the grind, learned how to close series, and still carry the chip of being “too young” to stay on top. 

So, yes, the numbers are historic. The depth is real. The defense is elite. 

But more than anything, the Thunder play like a team that already knows who they are and knows that the trophy still runs through Oklahoma City.

The NBA isn’t watching a fluke. 

It’s watching the start of a dynasty.

This article first appeared on The Lead and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.