The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their fourth loss of the season last night, their second against the San Antonio Spurs and their third loss in the previous five games. That they would eventually hit a wall was somewhat expected, especially when considering ESPN’s metrics showed that after starting 24–1, OKC had the easiest schedule in the league. All three of their recent losses came against teams that are legitimate Western Conference contenders.
During that dominant stretch under head coach Mark Daigneault, most of the conversation centered on OKC’s suffocating defense, and for good reason. Oklahoma City currently ranks first in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing just 104.1 points per 100 possessions, the best mark in the league over the past five seasons. They are also second in steals and ninth in blocks, according to NBA.com.
Advertisement
Still, LeBron James and Steve Nash touched on the fact that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again putting together an MVP-caliber season, and the four-time MVP, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to reach the top, believes that despite OKC’s elite defense, everything starts with the offensive brilliance of the Canadian guard.
“You’ve got to be disciplined, which I know is tough because you want to stop him so bad. But you have to understand that the greatest defense in the world has never been able to beat the greatest offense — never,” James pointed out on the “Mind the Game” podcast.
Advertisement
SGA is having one of the best individual seasons ever
A deeper look into advanced stats only reinforces how dominant the Thunder have been defensively. Opponents are shooting just 43.0 percent from the field against OKC this season, the worst mark in the league, while OKC is also forcing 18.0 turnovers per game, best in the NBA.
On the other hand, Oklahoma City ranks only sixth in offensive rating and 17th in assists per game, which suggests that while their offense is elite, defense remains their calling card.
Advertisement
However, LeBron’s point about Shai is obvious to anyone who has watched OKC this season. The 6-foot-6 guard is once again in full MVP mode and is very likely to average at least 30 points per game on 50 percent shooting or better for a fourth consecutive season. That level of efficiency puts immense pressure on opposing defenses, opening up easier opportunities for his teammates.
Denver could seriously test Oklahoma in the playoffs
It’s no coincidence that the two teams with the leading MVP candidates, Nikola Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, are also the top title favorites this season. Their elite records, despite dealing with injuries, speak for themselves.
Advertisement
It will be fascinating to see whether LeBron’s statement ultimately proves true. The Denver Nuggets currently lead the league with an offensive rating of 124.1, which would be an all-time record.
That sets up the possibility of a “final before the Finals” in the Western Conference – the league’s best offense against the league’s best defense. Last season, Oklahoma City came out on top, and a continuation of this rivalry, along with a potential Thunder breakthrough, could seriously challenge LeBron’s long-standing belief.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.