Persistence: The Thunder’s Biggest Flex

If I told you the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder would shoot 31.5 percent from three to start the season, Jalen Williams wouldn’t play a single minute through the first seven games after follow-up surgery on his injured wrist, and Chet Holmgren would miss three of those seven games with back soreness, would you believe me if I said that team was 7-0; the last undefeated team in the NBA?

Oklahoma City started the season against all odds, literally. Yes, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played all seven games so far and has looked every bit the MVP again, averaging 33.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 52.6 percent shooting. But it’s taken more than Shai’s generational brilliance for OKC to overcome two double-overtime thrillers. More was required for the Thunder to post a 16-point average margin of victory outside of those two games, which, by the way, were the first two of the season.

At the end of the day, Oklahoma City leans on its persistence. And that goes beyond the players on the court. It’s organizational, and it trickles down. From Clay Bennett, in the way he acquired and has maintained the franchise, to Sam Presti, who sniffed greatness in the early Thunder days and has persistently worked to return to that peak, which he’s done, then to Mark Daigneault, who’s kept this group even-keeled regardless of circumstances, the tone of persistence is everywhere.

“It’s not been smooth sailing,” Daigneault said. “In the first games, we’ve played a lot of close ones that we had to grind out. Embracing the game when it’s a little ugly is important. With our injuries, we’ve had to lean on our depth. Even the shooting, we haven’t shot the ball well. I just think the persistence that the team showed in all those situations builds a muscle as you go through the season that we can grow from.”

Persistence, mixed with talent and the right combination of puzzle pieces, defines why the Thunder are the league’s last undefeated team, despite missing a big chunk of expected production.

The right puzzle pieces matter on the court and off it. I’ve always called the Thunder the “Next Man Up” Thunder, dating back to the Chris Paul days during Shai’s first season in OKC. That’s been their identity.

This season, in place of J-Dub, we’ve talked endlessly about Ajay Mitchell, who has scored in double figures in every game so far and currently leads the Sixth Man of the Year race. But others are stepping up, too. Chet Holmgren was putting up All-Star numbers in the four games he played, averaging 23.0 points and 10.3 rebounds on 56.9 percent shooting. Isaiah Joe’s return from injury has been impactful, averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. Aaron Wiggins adds 13.4 points in nearly 28 minutes per game. Isaiah Hartenstein ranks seventh in the NBA with 11.4 rebounds per game, and Cason Wallace has made Thunder history with the most steals through the first six games of a season, totaling 18. He leads the league at 3.0 steals per game. The Thunder now have six players averaging in double figures.

“We’re still the same team, no matter how much we’ve won or the awards people have gotten,” Thunder forward Jaylin Williams said following OKC’s win over New Orleans. “Our team has stayed the same. We treat each other the same. New rookies, we treat them the same. We’re so bonded as a team. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

Oklahoma City embodies unity and knows when to flip the right switch, from Shai to the 12th man off the bench, Branden Carlson.

This team looks even better than last year’s, and it all feels cerebral. Mentally, they’re exponentially more mature, with an abundance of situational awareness and poise. How good will they be once they’re fully healthy? The result could be scary.

“I guess we still have to find out what a fully healthy Thunder looks like,” Williams said. “We’re all super excited to see it, but everyone’s going to find that out at the same time.”

OKC’s undefeated record will soon be tested on its upcoming West Coast road trip, which includes a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, followed by matchups with the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies.