Move Elevate

The Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer just one of the NBA’s most exciting young teams,  they’re becoming a historically dominant one. With a scorching 17–1 start to the 2025–26 season and a league-best +16.9 point differential, the defending champions have launched themselves into a rare conversation:
the chase for a 70-win season.

Few teams in NBA history have even approached that milestone. Fewer still have achieved it. But with the Thunder blowing out opponents, controlling tempo, and executing like a veteran powerhouse, analysts across the league are beginning to wonder,  could this be the next team to join the 70-win club?

A Start So Hot, It Can’t Be Ignored

The Thunder didn’t just start strong,  they started historic.
Their first 18 games have showcased:

• Elite defensive discipline
  
• Exceptionally balanced scoring
  
• High-efficiency offense
  
• Complete control in crunch moments
  
• Top-tier coaching adjustments
  

A +16.9 point differential this deep into the season is almost unheard of. It reflects dominance, depth, and consistency,  the hallmarks of every legendary NBA team.

Oklahoma City isn’t squeaking out wins.
They’re overwhelming teams.

Defense: The Foundation of Greatness

The Thunder are winning the classic way: defense first.

Their rotations are crisp, communication is sharp, and their ability to turn defensive stops into instant offense is unmatched. The Thunder swarm the perimeter, protect the paint with discipline, and challenge every shot.

This defensive identity hasn’t just won them games,  it’s separated them from everyone else.

Historically, the best defensive teams are the ones that flirt with 65–70 wins:
the ’96 Bulls, the ’14 Spurs, the ’16 Warriors.
The Thunder are now in that kind of conversation.

 The Power of Balance: No Weak Links

What makes this Thunder team so dangerous is their balance.

They’re not relying on a single superstar to drag them through games. Their roster is deep, versatile, and mature beyond its years.

Characteristics of their roster strength include:

 Multiple double-digit scorers

Anyone on the court can take over a quarter.

 Elite two-way wings

Their perimeter defense suffocates playmakers.

 A star anchor who sets the tone

Their best players lift the floor,  and the ceiling,  every night.

A bench that plays like starters

Energy, shooting, and defense stay consistent across all rotations.

No matter the lineup, the Thunder remain cohesive and controlled. That’s what makes them frighteningly good.

Consistency: The Secret Ingredient to 70 Wins

Many talented teams start hot.
Only the truly great ones stay hot.

What separates this Thunder squad is their night-to-night consistency. They don’t have major mental lapses. They don’t play down to weaker opponents. They don’t get rattled on the road.

Their approach is simple but rare:

• defend at a high level every night
  
• trust the system
  
• trust each other
  
• play with controlled aggression
  

This is why analysts are calling them “one of the best teams of this decade”,  even though the decade isn’t done yet.

Are the Thunder Built for a 70-Win Run?

Let’s break down the key factors:

1️ Defense travels, and defense wins big seasons.

Elite defensive teams win at home, on the road, on back-to-backs, and in tough stretches. OKC fits this profile perfectly.

2️ No over-reliance on one player.

This reduces injury risk and keeps performance steady through the grind.

3️ The team is young.

Legs stay fresh. Energy stays high. Long winning streaks become easier.

4️ They are the defending champions.

They’ve already proven they can withstand pressure.

5️ Their margin of victory is historically elite.

Teams who consistently win by double digits often finish with 60+ wins,  or push toward 70.

When the Washington Post and other major outlets start calling them early favorites for a historic season, it’s not exaggeration,  it’s pattern recognition.

The Only Real Threat: Health

Every analyst, every coach, every player knows:

A 70-win season depends on staying healthy.

One long injury to a core player can derail even a championship-caliber team. The Thunder know this, and their rotation has already shown signs of being carefully managed.

If they stay healthy, the data says they have the formula for 65–72 wins. If they don’t, they’re still a top-two team in the West.

Either way, this is a special group.

What Comes Next?

The Thunder’s next month will tell us everything:

• Can they sustain this pace?
  
• Can they continue dominating both ends?
  
• Can they stay mentally locked in?
  
• Can they overcome tough road stretches?
  

If the answer is yes, history may be approaching faster than anyone expected.

For now, what’s clear is this:

The Thunder aren’t just good. They aren’t just contenders. They look like the next great NBA dynasty,  and they’re playing like a team chasing immortality.