Current Standings & Dominance
Current NBA standings show that the team with the best record in the competition is the Oklahoma City Thunder, with a record of 24 wins and just 2 losses. No other team can compare to this record.
They have gotten off to such a strong start that they are tied with the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the all-time best start in a 25-game span in NBA history
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1. Superstar Player: Shai Gil
The most glaring one is the presence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or SGA for short, who is currently the NBA MVP. During his last season, in which he won the NBA MVP award, SGA scored an average of 32.7 points per game. He topped all of NBA players in this statistic, aside from being well-rounded with assistance, rebounds, and defense.
During the 2025-26 season, SGA remains a key player in leading the team at an elite level with over 30 points per game.
His capacity to make shots, distribute, and defend at an elite level makes him an MVP candidate because he is a motor that powers the team’s wins in Oklahoma City.
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2. Young, Balanced & Deep Core
Aside from SGA, the Thunder have a core roster with a combination of youth, All-Star players, and All-NBA players in:
• Jalen Williams: A breakout star with an average of over 20 points per game, with rebounding and assists to support.
• Chet Holmgren: A special big man with range, rim protection, and length on defense.
• Isaiah Hartenstein: His rebounding and defense are elite.
Their core is young and cost-managed with term commitments, which lends them continuity and chemistry.
3. Efficient Offense & Shooting Depth
The Thunder score well because they shoot a lot and shoot well. They were among the leaders in these categories in the last season:
• SC skill level
• Base skill
• Three-point
• Free throw attempts
A majority of these players were above average in shots attempted in their respective leagues, which meant they had multiple ways of scoring other than relying on their stars. SI
Having multiple reliable shooters and playmakers on the court makes opposing defenses pay, which in turn gives SGA and other players opportunities.
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4. Elite Defense
The other side of their coin, defense, is an integral component of their winning over these years, which always takes a backstage seat based on their incredible offense. Their defense, since winning the title in 2025, remains among the top in the whole NBA.
• Foster high turnover rates
• Produced steals and blocks
• Rank in the top in defensive efficiency
Their capacity to win the ball from their opponents and transition to attack puts pressure on other teams.
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5. Margin of Victory & Statistical Dominance
One of the most important statistics which shows how dominant the Oklahoma City Thunder have actually been is not wins, but margin of victory. With a scoring differential in their first 25 games of +17.5, they have one of the largest in history.
“This is not just winning tight games but showing blowouts and being consistent on both sides of the court, which in the past has shown a trend towards a team making a serious push in the playoffs,”
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6. Net Rating & Advanced Metrics
Net Rating in the 2024/25 season:
The Thunder were the best team in Net Rating among all teams in the 2024/25 season because they scored more points on offense relative to their performance on defense. They were also ranked among the
· Top 3 in offensive rating
· High defensive efficiency
Such advanced statistics allow for a level of dominance not measured by wins and losses.
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7. Championship Culture & Confidence
The Thunder won an NBA title in 2025, culminating a record-breaking season with 68 wins and an NBA Finals series victory over the Indiana Pacers.
This championship carryover is a massive boost when it comes to confidence and identity. “Teams in all sports and all leagues win a championship, and they come back with a different sense of poise and a different sense of efficiency,” Ainge explained. “Oklahoma City definitely is not immune to this in
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8. Continuity & Development
As with most of the elite teams that overhaul and/or bring new talent into the fold every summer, rather than an overhaul, the Thunder have largely left their title team intact.
The players are developing simultaneously, which is increasing team unity and allowing coaches to open up systems creatively.
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9. Head Coaching & Front Office
Mark Daigneault, their head coach, is an oft-heralded individual because of his skill in cultivating youth and designing systems to maximize both offense and defense. Their front office, in particular Sam Presti, has a very unique combination of draft IQ and asset management acumen.
Presti’s history with smart drafting and team building forms a basis for the sustained success the Oklahoma City Thunder are enjoying at the moment.
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10. What This Means for the Rest of the Season
As of now, the Thunder are leading the league not by accident but by completeness:
•A generational candidate for Most Valuable Player currently
•Rich, complex roster building
•Top defense and sound offense
•Statistical dominance in key performance indicators
• Championship experience and continuity
With these qualities, it is no wonder that not only are they at the top of the standings but they are portrayed as being the most complete team in the NBA, or perhaps one of the most dominant performances in NBA history.