Thunder’s Path to NBA Greatness

The Thunder seem to be on the brink of becoming the NBA’s next great dynasty.

Despite having secured only one championship so far, they’re already being talked about alongside the league’s top teams.

This season, they’ve joined the ranks of the Bulls (1995-97) and Warriors (2014-16, 2015-17) as the only franchises to win 80% of their games in two separate seasons. Additionally, they’ve set a record for the highest cumulative point differential in that time frame.

“The Thunder are one of the greatest teams in NBA history,” Lakers coach JJ Redick remarked. “That’s the reality. They’re very good.”

So, what does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander think about these lofty comparisons?

After leading his team to an 8-0 record in the postseason, he was asked if he believed they matched up against squads like Michael Jordan’s Bulls or Stephen Curry’s Warriors. He responded, “I don’t know. That’s a far cry from where we are today. Those teams won multiple titles in a row, and we’ve just won one. It feels like we’re still quite distant from that level.”

Indeed, Jordan’s Bulls were champions six times within eight years from 1990 to 1998, while the Warriors captured four titles in eight years from 2015 to 2022.

There’s a significant difference between a team with just one championship and one that reigned over the league for nearly a decade. Yet, when watching the Thunder, you get a sense of their potential greatness.

They are aiming to carve their place among the NBA’s elite franchises. For the second consecutive season, Oklahoma City features the best net rating in the league coupled with an outstanding defense. Gilgeous-Alexander has claimed the MVP title twice. Their team operates like a finely-tuned machine, boasting an almost endless supply of fresh talent capable of dismantling opponents on both ends of the court.

Defensively, players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Williams, Lou Dort, Alex Caruso, and Kason Wallace present a formidable front. Then there’s Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein ready to block shots and dominate the paint.

And on offense, trying to contain Gilgeous-Alexander is no small feat—he’s remarkably consistent. With other skilled players waiting to capitalize, it almost feels like a game of whack-a-mole.

The Thunder have no apparent weaknesses. They’re deep, athletic, and youthful. Their camaraderie shines through as they joke and relax in the locker room after games.

It’s evident that the Thunder possess something special.

LeBron James seems to recognize that too. When asked if he thinks the Thunder are comparable to the Warriors, a dynasty his team faced in the Finals for four consecutive years from 2015 to 2018, he stated, “They’re very good from top to bottom. They don’t let off the gas.”

In their playoff series against the Lakers, the Thunder won all four games by an average of 16 points, even with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring less than usual at 24.5 points per game, down from his league-leading 33.7. It’s worth noting they also played without Williams due to a hamstring injury.

But that didn’t seem to matter.

This postseason, Holmgren is averaging 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds while Ajay Mitchell has emerged as a standout player with 18.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. Jared McCain and Wallace’s shooting from beyond the arc has been impressive, adding depth to their already robust roster.

However, tougher challenges await.

Next, they’ll face the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Notably, the Spurs have been a tough matchup this season, having beaten the Thunder four times in 18 games lost. Despite that, Oklahoma City secured 64 wins compared to San Antonio’s 62.

If the Thunder aim to be the first team since the Warriors in 2018 to claim back-to-back titles, they must overcome Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, a highly touted talent with a 7-4 record.

Gilgeous-Alexander is focused on winning two more playoff series rather than dwelling on the hype surrounding his team’s potential. He acknowledges the possibility of becoming a dynasty.

Yet, he emphasizes that not much has been accomplished so far. “We have an opportunity in front of us,” he explained. “But that’s true for any team that wins one title. If you win one, you have a chance to chase another. No team has repeated in recent years, but that’s our goal.”

Gilgeous-Alexander wants the Thunder to join the ranks of the Bulls or Warriors. That’s why he commits fully every night, aiming to uplift his teammates and propel the team forward.

Yet, the comparisons, while flattering, remain somewhat hollow at this stage.

“Right now, no,” he said when asked about being in the same discussion as the Bulls and Warriors. “But hopefully, it will be.”