OKLAHOMA CITY — The Thunder are discovering the roles of contender and champion to be very completely different.
Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the younger squad gained the NBA title final season after years of exhibiting promise.
Oklahoma Metropolis began this season with a 24-1 document, matching the most effective 25-game begin in league historical past. The potential of the Thunder bettering Golden State’s 73-9 common season document from 2015-16 turned a preferred matter among the many league’s followers and specialists.
Then, cracks developed within the Thunder’s seemingly impenetrable armor. The Spurs beat them thrice in two weeks, together with a 15-point win on Christmas Day.
Monday evening’s lesson was completely different, although. It was a humbling 124-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a staff that entered the evening with a 12-23 document.
Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned it is not time to overreact.
“There’s numerous video games left within the season,” he mentioned. “We have gained large. We have misplaced large. Some nights are going to be dangerous. Some nights are going to be nice. However regardless, you need to attempt to get higher the following day. I believe that is what permits you to, I suppose you may say, be resilient. It is arduous, clearly, however the most effective groups do it, and that is who we’re making an attempt to be.”
It is unusual {that a} Thunder staff with a 30-7 document and a 98-21 regular-season mark because the begin of final season is drawing such scrutiny. However they’re 6-6 because the unbelievable begin to this season, and the losses to the Spurs made them appear nearer to the pack.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned video games like Monday’s assist his staff perceive what a sport in opposition to them means for his or her opponents.
“While you win the championship and also you begin the best way we began, it comes with the territory,” he mentioned. “I believe it provides you a novel alternative to essentially enhance by that. … It is a aggressive privilege to be a staff that different groups are as much as play for.”
The Thunder did not rise to the event Sunday in opposition to Phoenix or Monday in opposition to Charlotte. They misplaced consecutive video games for simply the second time this season.
Daigneault finds worth within the exams, even when the staff fails.
“It forces you to rise to that,” he mentioned. “And for those who can, you actually can get higher and stronger because of that. And for those who do not, you be taught the lesson. So we received to be taught the teachings in these ones.”
One of many strangest developments has been how the Thunder haven’t been as efficient since 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams has returned from wrist surgical procedure. They’re 18-2 with out him within the beginning lineup and 12-5 with him.
Nonetheless, the staff has the league’s finest document and leads the NBA in web score and defensive score. Gilgeous-Alexander was the Western Convention Participant of the Month for December, and Chet Holmgren was the convention’s defensive participant of the month.
Oklahoma Metropolis has handled quite a few different accidents all through this season, with Holmgren lacking a number of video games. Even in opposition to Charlotte, the Thunder have been lacking beginning middle Isaiah Hartenstein and key reserves Alex Caruso and Jaylin Williams.
The Thunder are among the many league’s deepest groups, so that they often discover success with the following participant. When that does not occur, the staff displays.
“It’s important to method it with the suitable stage of gravity,” Holmgren mentioned. “You possibly can’t simply brush it off and wipe the movie and say on to the following, however you can also’t overreact and permit the feelings of clearly dropping a sport no one likes to lose — you may’t let that take over both and pull you within the mistaken course.”
Daigneault mentioned he isn’t frightened.
“When the wind’s in your face, you have to endure,” he mentioned. “You have to have the resilience and the toughness to proceed to compete, proceed to remain collectively, proceed to concentrate on the controllable execution issues that provide help to change course. And so that is what we’ll do. That is what we have all the time completed and what we are going to do on this state of affairs.”