Given how the Oklahoma City Thunder have quickly dismissed all notions that their championship run in the 2024-25 season was a fluke, highlighted by their remarkable start to the 2025-26 season, it is only natural that comparisons to some of the most legendary and dominant teams in NBA history have begun to surface.
While many fans may be ready to place this deep and disciplined Thunder team among the greatest of all time already, Gilbert Arenas isn’t one of them. In his view, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls still hold a definitive edge, largely because of the intimidation and fear they instilled in opponents on a nightly basis.
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He put ’96 Bulls over ’26 Thunder
Through the first 25 games of the 2025-26 season, the Thunder boasts the league’s best defensive rating while also ranking among the top three teams offensively, courtesy of seven players averaging points in double digits. What makes their run even more impressive is their depth and structural balance.
For instance, even when quality two-way players like Jalen Williams and Lu Dort are out, this team has enough talent on its roster to compensate for their loss without a noticeable drop in performance.
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However, Gil believes those numbers and balance do not fully capture what separates the truly historic Bulls from the current Thunder team. According to him, the ’96 Bulls possessed an unmatched psychological edge.
Unlike today’s players who do not “fear” Shai Gilgeous Alexander, teams were actually intimidated by Michael Jordan, as they knew no defensive scheme could stop him from scoring in the paint, which is why Arenas believes the ’96 Bulls are the most dominant team of all time.
“Most dominant? I mean, the ’96 Bulls was the dominant team. People actually feared them, right? Because everyone feared Michael Jordan. I wouldn’t think so,” Arenas said. “I mean, you can see that in the layup line against the Bulls back then. So, esthetically, the Chicago Bulls was the most dominant.”
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Thunder deserves more respect
One key factor behind the Bulls’ aura was continuity and pedigree. The 1995-96 season marked MJ’s first full year back after his initial retirement, reuniting him with his co-star Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson — a trio that had already delivered a three-peat earlier in the decade.
So, players and teams across the league were acutely aware of that chemistry and championship DNA. In contrast, the Thunder remain a relatively young group, with nearly all of their core players, aside from Alex Caruso, under the age of 28.
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As a result, almost all opponents initially believe that they could rely on experience to outlast this youthful roster. However, that assumption has repeatedly proven incorrect. OKC’s collective grit, discipline and relentless two-way effort have overwhelmed nearly every opponent they have faced.
Put simply, rather than shrinking under pressure, this Thunder team continues to grow more confident and composed with each passing game. Who knows, if they do register the best-ever record, there might be no counterargument left than crowning them the most dominant team of all time.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.