The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t just win another game — they made history. With their dominant victory over the Phoenix Suns, OKC officially tied the iconic 25-game start of the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors, one of the most celebrated and untouchable early-season runs the league has ever seen. For a team once considered “too young,” “too early,” or “not ready,” the Thunder have delivered a thunderous answer: They are here, and they are serious.

Few expected Oklahoma City to accelerate this fast. Yes, they were a promising playoff team last season. Yes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was ascending to superstardom. And yes, the roster was deep and meticulously built. But tying a record set by a 73-win team? That wasn’t on anyone’s radar. Yet somehow, through chemistry, discipline, and a frightening level of growth, OKC has surged to a 24–1 start — a mark only a handful of teams have ever reached.

What makes this run even more stunning is the way it has happened. OKC isn’t scraping by in close games. They’re dominating, overwhelming, and outclassing opponents. Their offense hums with precision, their defense swarms with intelligence, and their pace pushes teams to exhaustion. This isn’t a fluke. It’s a formula — and it’s working better than anybody could have predicted.

At the center of everything stands Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a superstar who plays with the patience of a veteran and the hunger of someone who still feels overlooked. Each night, SGA dictates the game with surgical efficiency. His mid-range mastery has become one of the league’s most unstoppable weapons, and his ability to control tempo elevates everyone around him.

But to credit SGA alone would miss the point: this is a collective masterpiece.
Jalen Williams has taken a massive leap, morphing into a two-way force who can guard bigger bodies, create off the dribble, and knock down important shots. Chet Holmgren has been everything the Thunder hoped for — a unicorn shot-blocker with guard skills and fearless competitiveness. His rim protection alone has transformed OKC’s defensive identity.

Then there’s the depth. The Thunder can go 10 or 11 players deep without losing rhythm. Isaiah Joe spaces the floor with elite shooting. Lu Dort remains a perimeter brick wall. Josh Giddey, despite ups and downs, still contributes valuable playmaking and size. It feels like everyone has a role, and everyone embraces it fully.

What separates this Thunder team from other young squads is maturity. Their shot selection is disciplined. Their ball movement is intentional. Their defensive rotations are advanced far beyond their average age. It’s almost jarring to watch such a young group play with such veteran-level poise. They don’t panic. They don’t force things. They don’t lose composure. They simply execute.

Comparisons to the 2015–16 Warriors are inevitable — and earned. Golden State’s legendary start was built on the back of unprecedented shooting, revolutionary small-ball lineups, and the rise of an MVP-level Stephen Curry. OKC’s rise isn’t identical, but the blueprint feels similar. A young core that fits perfectly. A playstyle that confuses defenses. A confidence that grows with every win.

The Warriors warped the league through spacing.
The Thunder are warping the league through versatility.

Yet tying the record is more than symbolic. It represents a gateway to enormous expectations. The NBA world didn’t take OKC lightly before, but now? Every veteran team will raise its intensity. Every contender will circle the Thunder on their schedule. Every analyst will scrutinize their next steps. This is the burden of greatness — especially when you step into a category occupied by the 73-win Warriors.

Still, OKC’s ascent raises an even bigger question:
Is this the beginning of a new dynasty?

General Manager Sam Presti has spent years rebuilding with patience and precision. Draft picks turned into assets. Assets turned into contributors. Contributors turned into stars. And now those stars are coexisting, developing, and competing at a level that seems light-years ahead of schedule.

But sustained success takes more than talent — and that’s where coach Mark Daigneault enters. His system empowers creativity while demanding discipline. The Thunder play unselfish basketball not because they’re told to, but because the system rewards it. Daigneault’s adaptability has been crucial; he adjusts lineups fluidly, trusts his bench deeply, and allows his players room to grow through mistakes.

One of the most impressive aspects of this start is the Thunder’s ability to win in different ways. Sometimes they rely on SGA’s clutch performance. Other nights, the defense smothers opponents. Some games turn into three-point contests, with OKC burying teams under a barrage of shooting. Other games are grind-it-out slugfests. This versatility makes them incredibly difficult to prepare for.

Their performance against Phoenix — a 138–89 destruction — showcased their ceiling. Every rotation clicked, every possession mattered, and every player contributed. That wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. A reminder. A warning.

Record-wise, OKC now stands beside the Warriors of 2015–16, a team that changed the sport and left a lasting imprint on basketball history. That Warriors start was followed by a 73-win season. OKC reaching that number isn’t the goal — but the possibility forces the league to sit up and pay attention.

Naturally, skeptics will question whether the Thunder’s youth can survive the pressures of a full season. The playoffs slow down. Games get physical. Opponents exploit weaknesses. It’s one thing to dominate in December — it’s another to win in May and June. But if any young team is built for that challenge, this one might be.

The Thunder also have something the Warriors didn’t: unprecedented draft capital. Even with the team soaring, Presti holds an arsenal of future picks that could be flipped for veteran depth, playoff experience, or another star. That flexibility makes OKC dangerously dynamic. They’re elite now — and they can still get significantly better.

For fans, this start feels surreal. A franchise that once watched Kevin Durant leave, that saw Russell Westbrook traded, that endured rebuilding pain, is suddenly on the verge of something incredible. The crowd energy is growing. The national spotlight is brighter. The pressure is heavier. And yet the Thunder remain calm, confident, and laser-focused.

Tying the Warriors’ record is both a finish line and a starting point. It validates their climb. It entrenches them in history. But it also challenges them to keep going — to chase consistency, to chase greatness, to chase the legacy that comes with a season like this.

What happens next will define whether this Thunder team becomes a fun early-season story or a generational powerhouse. So far, all signs point toward the latter. They have the stars. They have the system. They have the momentum. And they have the hunger.

Matching a legendary start doesn’t guarantee a championship. But it proves something equally important: the Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer the future — they’re the present.

And the NBA had better be ready.