The Oklahoma City Thunder have already matched one Golden State Warriors record, and OKC star man Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has given their Western Conference rivals their flowers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has heaped praise on the Golden State Warriors dynasty(Image: Getty)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hailed Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors for changing the game of basketball after the Oklahoma City Thunder matched their unbelievable NBA record.
The defending NBA champions, the Thunder, have started the 2025-26 season with a 22-1 overall record, putting themselves in good standing to stage a championship defense this campaign. Their unbelievable start saw them become only the fourth NBA franchise to start a season 21-1 or better, joining the Warriors dynasty spearheaded by superstar guard Curry.
The Thunder are also looking to beat the Warriors’ NBA record of 73-9. “It’s pretty clear as day they changed basketball forever. Not a lot of people get to say that, but they changed the way the game is played in terms of small ball, the shooting, the pace, the possessions, the type of actions, all of it,” SGA said this week.
READ MORE: Caitlin Clark shot down Sophie Cunningham efforts despite ‘a lot of money’ at stakeREAD MORE: Clippers legend shows true colors with emotional defense of ‘scarred’ Chris Paul
“Yeah, they not only like won, they dominated and reinvented the wheel, which is something not a lot of people get to say they’ve done. So they’ve done things we all hope and dream to do with the game, and hopefully we do one day.”
The Thunder have the groundwork to build a dynasty, with their leading man SGA complemented by the likes of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
The next best team in the NBA is the Detroit Pistons in the East, boasting a .783 percentage on the season with an 18-5 record. The Thunder’s nearest challengers in the West are the 15-5 Houston Rockets, who traded for superstar Kevin Durant in the offseason.
SGA said the Steph Curry-era Warriors ‘reinvented the wheel'(Image: Getty)
In the Thunder’s last outing, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 in three quarters as Oklahoma City defeated the Dallas Mavericks 132-111. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault hailed SGA’s efficiency on offense.
“He’s got a lot of experiences,” Daigneault said. “I think a 23-game playoff run [last season] was informative for everybody, including him.
“And he kind of channels all that into his work, which is ruthlessly consistent and very focused. So all he’s ever done is improve. You know, so at this point, as great of a player as he is, it’s not surprising when it gets even better.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder have joined the Warriors as one of only four teams to start a season 21-1 or better(Image: Getty)
Supporting cast Holmgren and Williams each scored 15 points for the Thunder. “J-Will [Jalen Williams] did a great job on him. Kenrich did a great job. With AD, you have to fight for spots, and those guys brought great energy. He missed makeable shots, but we made him earn everything,” Daigneault said.
“He’s such a great player. It’s going to take a little time from a rhythm standpoint…he competes every night and plays the right way, which is incredibly impactful,” the coach added on Williams.
Holmgren’s physicality also helped neutralize the Mavericks.
“He’s not afraid to make mistakes, miss shots, or compete. That shows up on both ends of the floor, and he was excellent tonight, especially to start the third quarter on offense,” Daigneault said.