This is the only team in NBA history better than the Oklahoma City Thunder
Only one NBA team has ever started a season hotter than OKC, putting their historic 17-1 run in perspective.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are firing on all cylinders. Fresh off last season’s championship, the franchise has surged to a 17-1 start, including a nine-game winning streak, the best active run in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable, dropping 37 points in what felt like just another day at the office.
Eighteen days after falling to the Portland Trail Blazers on November 6, the Thunder finally had their revenge. And they did it in style. By the start of the second quarter, OKC had built a 25-point lead (43-18), cruising to a 112-95 victory and showcasing why they are serious contenders to repeat as NBA champions.
The Thunder’s incredible start in context
OKC’s 17-1 start puts them in elite company. Only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who began 24-0 on their way to a 73-9 season, have ever had a hotter start. The Thunder are showing they can reach similar heights if they keep rolling at this pace.
OKC: A team clicking on all cylinders
When the Thunder’s machine runs smoothly, it is nearly impossible to stop. With perfectly aligned gears, OKC has turned its defense into near perfection while its offense steamrolls opponents. Every team has succumbed to their dominance this season, except for that heroic Blazers team back in early November.
The Thunder are not just winning; they are dominating. They are scoring over 100 points in every game, allowing just 102.8 points per 100 possessions, and holding an overall rating of +16.9. Their average margin of victory? A staggering 22.3 points. Even their closest win came by 13 points.
Setting the pace in the NBA
In the Eastern Conference, only the Detroit Pistons (14-2) are keeping pace. The Lakers and Nuggets are trailing with four losses each, already a step behind OKC’s relentless start.
And the Thunder are doing all of this without Jalen Williams, their second or third option behind Shai. Williams has yet to make his season debut due to a wrist injury, making the team’s dominance even more remarkable.
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23
Brooks Barnhizer
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15
Branden Carlson
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9
Alex Caruso
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13
Ousmane Dieng
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5
Luguentz Dort
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2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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55
Isaiah Hartenstein
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7
Chet Holmgren
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11
Isaiah Joe
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25
Ajay Mitchell
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22
Cason Wallace
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6
Jaylin Williams
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3
Chris Youngblood
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| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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23
Brooks Barnhizer
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8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 1/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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15
Branden Carlson
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8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 2/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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9
Alex Caruso
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14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 1/1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
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13
Ousmane Dieng
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14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 2/3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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5
Luguentz Dort
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20 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 1/5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
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2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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30 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9/9 | 11/15 | 2/3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
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55
Isaiah Hartenstein
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22 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 3/9 | 0/0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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7
Chet Holmgren
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25 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 2/5 | 0/3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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11
Isaiah Joe
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23 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2/2 | 1/1 | 2/6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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25
Ajay Mitchell
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23 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2/4 | 6/6 | 2/2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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22
Cason Wallace
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26 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/4 | 1/5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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6
Jaylin Williams
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14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2/4 | 0/1 | 1/2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
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3
Chris Youngblood
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8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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8
Deni Avdija
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33
Toumani Camara
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91
Sidy Cissoko
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23
Donovan Clingan
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18
Javonte Cooke
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9
Jerami Grant
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16
Yang Hansen
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2
Caleb Love
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24
Kris Murray
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26
Duop Reath
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21
Rayan Rupert
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| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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8
Deni Avdija
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23 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2/3 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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33
Toumani Camara
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26 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0/0 | 2/3 | 0/3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
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91
Sidy Cissoko
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26 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 2/4 | 1/3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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23
Donovan Clingan
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19 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2/4 | 0/1 | 2/4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
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18
Javonte Cooke
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13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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9
Jerami Grant
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24 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6/6 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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16
Yang Hansen
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17 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/1 | 2/5 | 1/6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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2
Caleb Love
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25 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 2/5 | 1/8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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24
Kris Murray
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27 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/4 | 3/6 | 0/3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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26
Duop Reath
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19 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 3/3 | 0/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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21
Rayan Rupert
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15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/5 | 2/2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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