Oklahoma City Thunder’s Historic Dominance: A Challenge to Sustain
The Oklahoma City Thunder have made history by matching the best 25-game start in NBA history, prompting questions about how they will handle the distractions that come with being a dominant team. With a 24-1 start, the Thunder have outscored opponents by an average of 17.4 points, putting them on pace to break their own record of a plus-12.9 average point differential set last season.
Their recent 138-89 win over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Cup quarterfinals at the Paycom Center was the most lopsided loss in Phoenix history and the biggest blowout of the season. The Thunder have made routs seem routine, with 17 of their wins coming by double-digit margins. As reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander noted, the team’s focus is on the process, not getting bored with winning. “Winning is never boring. There was a time where some players on our team were getting blown out,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, referencing a 73-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 2, 2021.
Staying Focused and Avoiding Complacency
Coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the importance of mental toughness and not getting distracted by the score. “It’s hard to play with leads. It’s hard not to get distracted by the score,” he said. The Thunder have led by 20 or more points more often than they have trailed through 25 games, and Daigneault believes this is due to the team’s ability to stay present and focused. “You just got to play the next possession, get better the next day, win the next quarter and compete in the next game,” he said.
The Thunder’s priority is to remain present and not get caught up in past accomplishments or future possibilities. As Chet Holmgren noted, the team’s standard, respect for each other, and enjoyment of playing together are key factors in their success. “It continues with the respect we have for each other and the enjoyment that we have doing this together. And then it kind of all culminates in just trying to learn from every experience — good, bad, close game, blowout, whatever it might be,” Holmgren said.
A Historic Winning Streak
The Thunder’s 16-game winning streak is a franchise record, and they are 72-10 over their past 82 regular-season games, outscoring opponents by 1,189 points in that span. This is the best point differential over any 82-game span in NBA history, according to ESPN Research. While the 2015-16 Warriors’ single-season record of 73 wins seems within reach, the Thunder are focused on the present and not getting distracted by potential milestones.
Daigneault emphasized that the team still has a lot of improvement to make and competitive challenges ahead. “We certainly need to understand, we still have a lot of improvement to make. We have a lot of things to sustain and a lot of competitive challenges ahead,” he said. With the Thunder’s young core, including Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Holmgren, still developing, the team is poised for continued success. As they navigate the challenges of being a dominant team, the Thunder will look to stay focused, avoid complacency, and continue to make history.
