Oklahoma City’s dominant 15-1 start raises a question few expected this early in the season
At 15-1, the Oklahoma City Thunder have launched into the season with a level of control and confidence that has turned heads across the league. They are winning with clarity, purpose and rhythm, and they are doing it without Jalen Williams, who is still recovering from wrist surgery. When a team can remove a core creator and barely miss a beat, it says plenty about its structure and discipline.
Oklahoma City has built its rise on preparation and identity. Their defense remains the backbone. They pressure ballhandlers, close out shooters with speed and rotate as if every player already knows where the next pass is going. They limit clean looks and force opponents into uncomfortable decisions. In a league driven by pace and shooting, the Thunder have carved out an advantage by playing connected, alert and aggressive.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to elevate the team with his composure. He chooses his spots, manages possessions and never looks rushed. His ability to steady the offense even in tight moments keeps the Thunder from drifting. Chet Holmgren has taken a noticeable step forward, using his length to affect drives and his shooting to pull opposing bigs away from the paint. Lu Dort still provides the kind of perimeter defense that sets a tone early in games, and the rest of the roster plays with intention.
Depth has been one of the strongest parts of Oklahoma City’s start. Without Williams, several players have grown into expanded roles. The offense stays organized because the ball keeps moving and the spacing stays sharp. Players know where to be and when to attack. The Thunder do not rely on last-second heroics. They build leads through steady habits and break games open when opponents slip.
Their clean double-digit wins paint an honest picture. This is not a team surviving on lucky bounces or hot quarters. This is a team that controls pace, forces mistakes and keeps a consistent defensive standard. They rarely beat themselves.
That consistency is what makes the bigger question fair to ask: do the Oklahoma City Thunder have a real chance to chase the single-season wins record? The Warriors’ 73-9 masterpiece from 2015-16 remains one of the toughest marks in sports. Most teams don’t even get close enough to think about it. But Oklahoma City’s 15-1 start puts them on a track that at least puts the idea on the table. Once Williams returns, their ceiling rises even higher.
There are obstacles. Health sits at the top of the list. A team chasing history needs its core available and its chemistry uninterrupted. The NBA schedule is long. It tests depth, focus and stamina. Even great teams hit rough stretches. But this Thunder group has shown early signs of the discipline needed to avoid long slumps.
Nothing about their success feels accidental. Their habits stick. Their roles make sense. Their approach travels well. Teams with this kind of clarity usually last deep into the season.
Right now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are not only a defending champion but a group playing with the confidence of one. If they continue to sharpen their execution and reintegrate Williams without losing rhythm, they won’t just be fighting for the top seed. They may be fighting for a place in NBA history.
Fifteen wins out of sixteen do not guarantee anything. But they do prompt the question: is this the start of a legitimate chase at 73 wins? For Oklahoma City, the path is long, but the possibility is real.
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