While the Golden State Warriors set the bar for how basketball was played in the 2010s with their exceptional perimeter shooting, unselfish play and small-ball five, wherein all five players on the court could do a little bit of everything, the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are now redefining the game in this era.
With their 30-5 win-loss record, the Thunder are by far the best team in the NBA today, thanks to the versatility of every player on the roster and their unwavering commitment to playing tenacious defense. According to former All-Star Blake Griffin, the way the Thunder are playing is precisely how the league will be played for years to come.
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No weak linkÂ
While the league’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is undoubtedly the name on the marquee and the player every fan in the arena wants to watch in every Thunder game, Blake contended that the team’s primary strength lies in their depth and the lack of a weak link in their roster. He added that the league is actually trending in that direction.
“I love seeing the evolution of the NBA,” Griffin shared. “I love seeing bigger and bigger lineups. We’ve gotten to a point where every person on the floor has to be able to shoot, pass, dribble, and defend. There’s not a weak link. There’s not a weak area.”
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Blake said that in previous eras, teams could make do with having two or three terrific players on the court and having them play with a few role players. This could be seen in how the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s and the Los Angeles Lakers of the early 2000s built their dynasties. However, Blake argued that it isn’t the case today.
“I think the days are gone where you could say, ‘We’ll go get two really good players and put some good guys around them,’ or ‘We’ll get three and sprinkle it in,’ like the Oklahoma City model,” he added.
Five players who are playing in sync
Using the Thunder as an example, BG pointed out the challenge of identifying which player is the weak link, especially on defense. With the focus and activity they each bring to the court, it’s easy to see why they have been so successful.
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“This has kind of been my favorite thing to ask recently — name the worst Oklahoma City defender that they play. You’re still going to name a good defender,” Griffin stated. “It’s not the same as — I’m not trying to name names — but we all know bad defenders. They don’t have that.”
“That’s where the game has to go. And the best part about Oklahoma City is that a lot of it is just the effort they put in,” he continued. “So yeah, it is positionless basketball. I do think the length matters. The more skilled guys are, and the more length they have, you’re going to see things like Houston’s lineup — it’s insane. Their height is insane.”
It’s no surprise that OKC and Houston are in the upper echelon of the league. With a roster that features a robust amount of skill, talent, size and length, these teams are able to adapt to any style of play and thrive.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.