Thunder are on pace to shatter one of the NBA's greatest records

Rodney Knuppel

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Thunder are on pace to shatter one of the NBA's greatest records image

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to the kind of start that makes you double-check the standings to make sure you're not looking at a video game.

After a 131-101 blowout over the Jazz, NBA insider Marc Stein pointed out the wild reality. The defending champs are now 23-1, which puts them on pace to finish the season 79-3.

Teams simply don’t do this. They’re not supposed to.

But right now, the Thunder look like the team that missed the memo.

Winning streak keeps growing

OKC has now won 15 straight, and the last three have all been double-digit victories. They’re not squeaking by anyone. They’re stepping on teams early and making the fourth quarter feel optional.

Against Utah, they didn’t need a 50-point explosion or some miracle finish. They just overwhelmed the Jazz possession after possession. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams each dropped 25, giving the Thunder the kind of balance that’s becoming nightmare fuel for everyone else.

Second-place Denver sits at 17-6, which is a great record until you put it next to the monster OKC has turned into.

Their one loss feels like ancient history

The Thunder’s lone slip came on November 5 in Portland, a 121-119 loss where they actually led by 22. For most teams, blowing a big lead is a warning sign that things might tighten up.

For OKC, it seems to have done the opposite. They haven’t lost since.

The blip in Portland stands out now only because it’s the one thing that kept them from possibly chasing perfection.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is pushing the limits

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the closest thing the league has to a guaranteed bucket. He’s averaging 32.8 points per game and doing it with complete control, never rushing, never forcing. He’s putting up superstar numbers while looking like he’s barely breaking a sweat.

If you want to understand how OKC is doing this, it starts with their MVP.

The offense is on another level

The Thunder are scoring 123 points per game, which is just unfair when you combine it with how well they defend and how hard they play. When you face OKC, you have to survive endless drives, quick decisions, shooters everywhere, and a 7-footer in Holmgren who spaces like a guard and blocks shots like a center.

This is the most balanced, organized and confident young team the NBA has seen in a long time. And they’re doing it one blowout at a time.

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On pace for history

Starting 23-1 puts them in the same statistical neighborhood as the best teams ever. The 2016 Warriors went 73-9. The 1996 Bulls went 72-10. Both felt untouchable at the time.

Right now, OKC is on pace to leave both marks behind.

Is 79-3 realistic? Maybe not. But is this team strong enough to challenge the greatest regular-season records ever? Absolutely.

The Thunder aren’t just winning. They’re rolling, they’re improving and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.

If this is what they look like in December, the rest of the league might want to buckle up.

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