The Oklahoma City Thunder have become one of the most interesting teams of the past few years. While much of their attention has gone to their improving offense and new faces, their defense has quietly turned heads around the league.
With core defense players like Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC has made defense its identity. But with all this progress, a question comes up: Is the Thunder’s defense good enough to be ranked among the greatest in NBA history?
Why might the Thunder be one of the greatest teams on the defense?
In the early 2010s, the Oklahoma City Thunder rose to their contender status. The team’s defense was dominated by players like Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. After an outstanding win against the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, coach Scott Brooks praised the team’s defense by saying:
I thought our defense was outstanding. They’re a hard team to guard, but I thought our guys did a great job with our length, making them miss some shots. I thought the defense was the key tonight. It’s all about our effort on the defensive end to create opportunities for the offense.
Brooks said, according to News On 6
In March, 2019 interview with ESPN, Westbrook also talked about the team’s defensive growth:
In years past, I would say I would gamble a lot more and I would get steals here and there, but now I’m just more in the right spot, using my hands, just being in the place I need to be defensively.
Westbrook said, according to ESPN
The team experienced a rollercoaster during 2013-2019, when the defensive line went down-hill. Sefolosha’s exit and injuries of key players like Durant and Serge Ibaka, affected the team’s continuity. Former Thunder coach Billy Donovan said that there was a defensive slippage that they need to work on:
We’re going to need to get back to our identity, which is really an elite defensive team.
Billy Donnovan said, according to Erik Horne.
Billy Donovan says there's been "slippage" defensive with little practice time. "We're going to need to get back to our identity, which is really an elite defensive team."
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) January 1, 2018
After a short rebuilding period following 2020, the Oklahoma City Thunder started laying the foundation for something bigger, especially on the defensive end. Under head coach Mark Daigneault the Thunder began climbing the defensive ranks.
By 2023-24, the Thunder leaned into defense as their identity. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became a two-way anchor, finishing among league leaders in steals. Lu Dort disrupted scorers on the perimeter, while Chet Holmgren added rim protection and floor spacing.
What used to be a rebuild was now one of the most complete and respected defensive units in the league.
As of the current season, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold the top spot in the NBA’s defensive rankings for the regular season.
| TEAM | GP | W | L | MIN | DEF RTG |
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 82 | 68 | 14 | 48.1 |
| 2 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 82 | 64 | 18 | 48.2 |
| 3 | Boston Celtics | 82 | 61 | 21 | 48.4 |
| 4 | Houston Rockets | 82 | 52 | 30 | 48.2 |
| 5 | New York Knicks | 82 | 51 | 31 | 48.5 |
It might be early to compare OKC’s defense to the ‘04 Pistons or the 2000s Spurs, but they’re making a real case.
READ: RECAP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered MVP-caliber performances
