Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA champion who is in search of a dynasty

The banquet of glory did not satisfy the hunger of Oklahoma City Thunder. Quite the opposite: it awakened a voracious appetite in the NBA champion, who began the 2025-2026 season with 11 wins in the first 12 games.

That high five, as a gesture of congratulation and satisfaction for the task carried out, between Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderundisputed leader of the team, and Chet Holmgrena player with both a promising future and an outstanding present, offers an image of strength that magnifies one’s desire and generates fear in opponents.

The Thunder parade before their rivals. He takes them to his territory of suffocating defensive pressure, counterattack, ball circulation, aggressiveness to go towards the basket and commitment to get rebounds. The group directed by Mark Daigneault knows the script perfectly and knows how to execute it.

Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, in the reunion of the last two finalists, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, twice, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors suffered the champion.

Only the Portland Trail Blazers could beat him, in a game that Oklahoma City had dominated and incredibly let slip away. It served to show that they are human beings and not machines programmed exclusively to win.

The meeting against the Warriors of a Curry who already sees his reign in the NBA as a movie from the distant past, even though not that much time passed, was pointed out as an important test for the Thunder. It was not, since the champion was in control from start to finish and achieved a comfortable 24-point victory, the largest over Golden State in the last 6 years.

The next station of this train traveling at maximum speed is Los Angeles Lakers. It presents itself as another important challenge, since JJ Redick’s team, led by Luka Doncic, arrives with good feelings and the ability to solve the problems that arise.

Will it be a difficult obstacle for Oklahoma City? Until the answer is known, the Thunder are presented as the team with the best net rating in the league (difference in points scored and received per 100 possessions), with 14.4, and the best defensive rating, with 104.1 points received on average per game.

The champion reached a very high level last season, but it was not enough. It shows that he wants more, much more.

The Thunder’s absence problem has a solution: Ajay Mitchell

Jalen Williams, Shai’s ideal partner, has not yet played in the season. An injury to his right wrist has him, for the moment, as a privileged spectator of the Thunder’s strong performance.

Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe They lost five games each. Alex Carusofour. Cason Wallaceone.

Did the absences on the perimeter reduce Oklahoma City’s level? No. The solution has a first and last name: Ajay Mitchell.

The left-handed guard entered the team dynamic perfectly.

The 38th pick in the 2024 Draft played just 36 games in the 2024-2025 season, with a minor role and an injury that sidelined him from the courts until he was able to return near the Finals, without opportunities to insert himself consistently.

In this course, Mitchell, born in Belgium, averages 17.2 points, with 46.2% shooting from the field, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals. He already started four games, when he had started only one in his rookie campaign.

Mitchell fits in with the Thunder’s granite and committed defense. And on offense he provides valuable points with sharp penetrations that he defines near the rim and accurate shots.

Ajay emerges as a concrete option, even when the team has the full squad.

The Belgian, who started in basketball in his country and improved at the University of Santa Barbara, makes the Thunder even better.

Shai, the MVP who remains at the top of the NBA

Gilgeous-Alexander took all the honors last season. The MVP of the regular season and the NBA Finals continues on his path without looking back.

The Canadian has 84 consecutive games with at least 20 points scored, the third longest streak in history behind two of Wilt Chamberlain (126 games in 1961 and 64 in 1963).

Shai not only scores, he also distributes the game, defends and sets the course as a flag of the champion’s voracity.

If the Oklahoma City Thunder maintains the desire it has shown so far, it has everything to build a dynasty that will reign for years in the NBA..