Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Do Thunder deserve more respect heading into the playoffs?

By Noel Guerra | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 3:09 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder have put together a historic regular season. They are currently 66-14 with two games remaining, and they just clinched home-court advantage for the entire postseason.

However, a significant number of people still do not believe the Thunder will win it all. These are not just random Twitter accounts, either. These are former NBA players who do not envision this squad even making it out of the tough Western Conference.

Paul Pierce recently had a bold take on the Thunder and a potential first-round matchup, claiming the Minnesota Timberwolves might eliminate this historic team right away.

.@paulpierce34 isn't a believer in OKC

"I'm convinced... if the Thunder plays the Timberwolves in the 1st round, they might get bounced." pic.twitter.com/y9o5CbTsTT
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) April 9, 2025

That was a hot take, but it was a lot tamer than one recently made by Marcus Morris.

"I got [the Lakers] coming out of the West, let's be frank. ... I wouldn't even say OKC was next. I would say the Clippers, I would go as far to say the Warriors over OKC. What has [the Thunder] done outside of the regular season?"

—Marcus Morris Sr.pic.twitter.com/io9bjvWaP3
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 3, 2025

Asking what this Thunder team has done outside of the regular season is disingenuous. This is its second season together as a true title contender, and it didn't have Isaiah Hartenstein or Alex Caruso on the roster last season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is likely going to be the MVP this season, and Chet Holmgren was just a rookie last year.

Furthermore, this regular season is a lot different than last year's. The Thunder are breaking several records while placing in the top 10 in others.

This team is on pace to have the best scoring differential in NBA history at 12.58 points. The other four teams that made the top five in that category all won the NBA title that same season. Those teams include the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks, 1972 Los Angeles Lakers, 1996 Chicago Bulls and 2017 Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder are also in the top seven in regular-season winning percentage, but the best stat of them all is their NBA record of 51 double-digit wins.

Their roster is deep and filled with talent. They have five two-man lineups in the top 10 of net rating. They have Jalen Williams and Lu Dort, who both should make the All-Defensive team. And Gilgeous-Alexander's impact is obvious.

The Thunder deserve more respect from the masses for how well they have played this season. Yes, other teams in the Western Conference have more star power, but none have been on the level of Oklahoma City in terms of winning.

Noel Guerra

My name is Noel Guerra. I graduated from West Chester University in 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Media Studies with a minor in Journalism. I love the NBA and MLB with a love for sports betting as well.

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