OKC plays preseason hoops today, so it’s time for a career update: Tuesday, Sept. 30 was my last day at Thunder on SI.

Comparing the last 10 NBA champions: Higher winning percentage, higher net rating in playoffs: 2023 DEN, 2020 LAL, 2018 GSW, 2017 GSW, 2016 CLE Higher WP%, lower net rating in playoffs: 2024 BOS, 2022 GSW, 2021 MIL Lower WP%, lower net rating in playoffs: 2025 OKC, 2019 TOR

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers brought the basketball world a scintillating 2025 NBA Finals. I revisited this incredible series at length: www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

For the 43rd straight season, NBA teams committed more fouls per 100 possessions in the playoffs than regular season. This applied to six of OKC’s nine players who logged at least 200 playoff minutes.

2024-25 OKC starters, when healthy: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort. Thunder played 24 regular-season games without two or more starters. Thunder played 43 regular-season games without one starter (mostly Holmgren).

Last season, 16 regular-season players and 10 playoff players registered usage rates above 30%. Their turnovers per 100 possessions:

The 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder recorded the highest regular-season AND playoff turnover differentials in NBA history. OKC supercharged its defensive identity with Alex Caruso, and SGA remained one of the most ball-secure first options ever. My story: www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

There are four two-way factors that go into team success. The most important is field-goal shooting. Last season, OKC had a +4.7% effective field goal percentage differential in the regular season and a +1.5% playoff differential. My story, with data and graphs galore: www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

2025 NBA playoffs OKC: 33.8% 3-point percentage (worst among the last 10 champions) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren: 49.8% effective field goal percentage (worst among the last 10 championship trios) www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

“(Mark Daigneault) is fighting an uphill Coach of the Year battle not because of his ability, but because he has already set an extremely high bar.” Read my full story here: www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

This offseason, Sam Presti and the Thunder front office have handed long-term extensions to five rotation players – including OKC’s three best players. However, Presti will not repeat as Executive of the Year because of too much continuity. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s glistening 2024-25 season. The summary: SGA became one of four players to win the scoring title, MVP and Finals MVP in the same year. The verdict: He put together the greatest season in OKC’s franchise history. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed Jalen Williams’ 2024-25 season. The summary: Williams earned his first career All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defensive selections. The verdict: His efficiency dropped with more usage, but he brings so many other good things to the table. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed Chet Holmgren’s 2024-25 season. The summary: Holmgren suffered a three-month hip injury but returned for OKC’s playoff run. The verdict: His rim protection and shooting give the Thunder a sky-high floor, regardless of his scoring upside. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

Wrote my last batch of 2024-25 OKC player reviews over the weekend, starting with Luguentz Dort. The summary: Dort finally gained recognition by making the All-Defensive First Team. The verdict: His defense and effort define Thunder culture perfectly. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed Isaiah Hartenstein’s 2024-25 season. The summary: Hartenstein filled in seamlessly for the injured Chet Holmgren with reliable play on both ends. The verdict: The Thunder will play entire games with a quality center for at least one more season. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed Alex Caruso’s 2024-25 season. The summary: Caruso shook off early shooting woes and showed why he is a historically good perimeter defender. The verdict: OKC will reap countless rewards from his midseason extension. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed Cason Wallace’s 2024-25 season. The summary: Wallace was one of the NBA’s most impactful bench defenders. The verdict: A textbook championship role player, though his offensive upside remains questionable behind SGA and Jalen Williams. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

I reviewed four 2024-25 Thunder seasons over the weekend. The first? Aaron Wiggins. The summary: Regular-season Wiggins blossomed into one of OKC’s most reliable offensive players. The verdict: His contract value should keep him around for a long time. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

The Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals 61 days ago. Oklahoma City begins its 2025-26 regular season at home against the Houston Rockets in 60 days.

This apparently has as much Native American inspiration as the 2018-19 City jerseys. Okcthunder.com/city

The Oklahoma City Thunder has released its 2025-26 City Edition jersey:

Largest turnover differential per game during playoffs, last 10 NBA champions: 1. 2025 OKC, +5.7 2. 2019 TOR, +3.3 3. 2018 GSW, +0.7 4. 2016 CLE, +0.5 5. 2021 MIL, +0.43 6. 2017 GSW, +0.35 7. 2024 BOS, +0.2 8. 2023 DEN, -0.65 9. 2022 GSW, -0.68 10. 2020 LAL, -0.9

Fifteen NBA teams have won 80 or more games in a single season, including the playoffs. The 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder became the newest entry by racking up 84 wins. How did the 14 previous teams perform in their following seasons? Extremely well. A thread:

The 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder had a better winning percentage on back-to-backs (68.9%) than the No. 2 Houston Rockets had overall (63.4). Full splits: Zero days of rest: 11-5 (68.9%) One day of rest: 44-7 (86.3%) Two days of rest: 9-2 (81.8%) Three or more days of rest: 4-0

OKC Thunder, 2025 playoffs First round vs. MEM: +49 with Chet Holmgren, +29 without Holmgren Second round vs. DEN: +55 with Holmgren, +9 without Holmgren West Finals vs. MIN: +31 with Holmgren, +0 without Holmgren NBA Finals vs. IND: +34 with Holmgren, -15 without Holmgren

Most playoff minutes continuity among defending champions: 2014-15 SAS, 100.0% 1991-92 CHI, 100.0% 1986-87 BOS, 100.0% 1981-82 BOS, 100.0% 1973-74 NYK, 100.0% 2007-08 SAS, 99.6% (lost Beno Udrih) 1972-73 LAL, 99.5% (lost Jim Cleamons) 1957-58 BOS, 99.2% (lost Dick Hemric)

Last 25 NBA champions’ averages: 59.3 regular-season wins +7.1 regular-season net rating 15.9 playoff wins +7.0 playoff net rating Last 25 defending champions’ averages: 55.9 RS wins (-3.4) +5.3 RS net rating (-1.8) 9.0 playoff wins (-6.9) +2.0 playoff net rating (-5.0)

Percentage of playoff minutes brought back from previous season’s title run: 2025-26 OKC: 99.2% 2024-25 BOS: 98.1% 2023-24 DEN: 81.7% 2022-23 GSW: 85.7% 2021-22 MIL: 78.2% 2020-21 LAL: 71.2% 2019-20 TOR: 70.0% 2018-19 GSW: 88.5% 2017-18 GSW: 92.0% 2016-17 CLE: 92.4%

Isaiah Joe has been the Thunder’s most reliable outside shooter since arriving three years ago. Last season, he shot 41.2% on 3-pointers (No. 24 among 172 qualified players) while attempting 13.9 per 100 possessions (No. 5 among qualified players). www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

Kenrich Williams has evolved from trade throw-in to an unquestioned locker room leader in OKC. His toughness and willingness to do the dirty work made him one of 11 Thunder players who played 1,000+ minutes last season. Now, he can call himself a champ. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

Jaylin Williams is perhaps OKC’s most beloved player due to his postgame interview shenanigans, bench reactions and overall team spirit. Last season, the third-year big man took a massive statistical leap – highlighted by three triple-doubles. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

2025 NBA playoffs OKC at home: 11-2 record, +19.9 average point differential. Both losses came on last-second jumpers. Other 15 teams at home: 37-34 record, +3.0 average point differential Loud City lived up to its reputation massively.

SGA, Jalen Williams, Holmgren, Dort, Hartenstein, Caruso and Wallace played all 23 playoff games. Wiggins (22), Joe (21), Jaylin Williams (17) and Kenrich Williams (16) only sat out with DNP-CDs. As Presti mentioned in his postseason media availability, luck favored OKC last season.

Many reasons to believe so. -No starter older than 27 (SGA and Hartenstein) -No rotation player older than 31 (Caruso) -OKC went 32-8 with +10.5 net rating on road in regular season, dropped significantly in playoffs -OKC shot 37.4% on 3-pointers in regular season, dropped to 33.8% in playoffs

Fun fact: The 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder had the BEST home playoff net rating and the WORST road playoff net rating among the last 10 NBA champions.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein are five very good basketball players. Still, the Thunder churned out positive results no matter who was on the floor last season. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2024-25 regular season and playoffs Shots after zero dribbles: 58-for-88 (69.9%) 2-pointers 40-for-91 (44.0%) 3-pointers 65.9% effective field goal percentage Shots after one dribble: 35-for-57 (61.4%) 2-pointers 9-for-36 (25.0%) 3-pointers 52.2 eFG%

Great stuff from Rylan. As we saw in the conference semifinals, a flawed roster can certainly challenge the Thunder if it contains an elite offensive engine. The Lakers possess two. OKC would need to punish LAL’s defense with improved shooting from its last two playoff campaigns.

Including the playoffs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outscored the opposing team's leading scorer in 80 games by 868 combined points (10.9 average). The Oklahoma City Thunder went 71-9 in these games.

I reviewed Ousmane Dieng’s 2024-25 season. The summary: Dieng maintained very similar counting stats and improved his defensive activity. The verdict: He has one more season to establish himself in Oklahoma City’s deep and efficient rotation. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

OKC Thunder, Las Vegas Summer League results 2025: 4-0 2024: 1-4 (no playoffs) 2023: 2-3 (no playoffs) 2022: 3-2 (no playoffs) 2021: 2-3 (no playoffs) 2020: N/A 2019: 4-1 (no playoffs) 2018: 3-2 (lost in first round) This is its most successful campaign no matter what.

Hawks won by four, and Hornets beat Spurs by 25. Thunder plays in the Summer League semifinal this Saturday, either at 3 p.m. CST or 5 p.m. CST.

FINAL: Thunder 95, Pelicans 81. OKC clinches a Summer League semifinal berth without Mitchell and Topic. Barnhizer: 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting, game-high nine rebounds, two blocks, game-high +18 OKC: 23 assists on 33 field goals, 42 paint points, 18 points off 18 turnovers

The first renderings for OKC’s near 1 Billion Dollar arena that is set to open in 2028. The future home of the NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

FINAL: Thunder 92, Magic 75. Las Vegas Thunder improves to 3-0. Ajay Mitchell: 27 points on 9-for-13, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals Branden Carlson: 23 points on 9-for-13 (4-for-6 threes), seven rebounds, two blocks OKC scored 48 paint points and forced 24 turnovers

The Thunder starting lineup — Chris Youngblood, Brooks Barnhizer, Malevy Leons, Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic — combined for 74 points on 68.2% true shooting and a +133 plus-minus against the Pacers this evening.

HALFTIME: Thunder 52, Pacers 38 OKC shot 13-for-17 in the second quarter, including 6-for-9 from deep. Barnhizer: 13 points on perfect shooting, four steals, four rebounds, one assist, +12 plus-minus

Nikola Topic has recorded four assists in the last 2:32 of game time, fueling a 14-2 Thunder run. Brooks Barnhizer: Seven points on perfect shooting, three steals, two rebounds 22-18 OKC, 8:41 2Q

Thunder has missed nine of its first 10 shots. An Ajay Mitchell and-one layup broke the drought, but the Pacers are playing physical, active defense against OKC’s drivers. 6-2 IND, 5:54 1Q