It is always a tall challenge to win the NBA Finals, even for defending champions. Oklahoma City, for what it\u2019s worth, is pushing to get back on top after winning it all last year. This team has been facing some adversity this season. Some are even calling them frauds, but it seems they are proving critics wrong. Despite some hiccups, OKC\u2019s record is headed to a promising trajectory this season. In fact, they are closing in on a title-defining feat.<\/p>\n
Past the midpoint of the season, the Thunder are scrapping their way through injuries<\/a>. They are grinding one game at a time with the hopes of reaching 40 wins before 20 losses \u2014 a feat worthy in defining championship teams. The Thunder record stands at 37-8, which means they\u2019re definitely not that far from doing better than their previous season; a record of 40-9 upon reaching win No. 40.<\/p>\n OKC Record Inches Close to Championship-Defining Feat<\/p>\n The 40-before-20 rule is a rare feat for teams in the NBA. It is a theory by former coach Phil Jackson, noted for his league-leading 11 championships in the league. There are many known contending teams in the league, but the 40 before 20 standard is quite reasonable: A team that reaches 40 wins before suffering 20 losses is worthy of being a championship team. Coined in 1980, all but four champions ended up winning the title by meeting this standard.<\/p>\n The Thunder Record is Worth Keeping an Eye On<\/p>\n Oklahoma City has been a promising team to watch this season. They are, however, not without some notable flaws. For starters, they have been missing some key players down the stretch. Jalen Williams<\/a> is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury. Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a> has missed a huge chunk of the season<\/a>\u00a0so far. And now top candidate for Sixth Man of the Year Ajay Mitchell<\/a> has suffered an abdominal stain. Nothing has been easy for the Thunder, and yet here they are with a promising 37-8 record\u2014the best in the NBA.<\/p>\n Only the Pistons, Spurs, and Nuggets have won 30 games so far. OKC is pushing to reach 40 wins right now, and they\u2019re going to be the first should they not lose in the next three games. If you\u2019re not impressed, the Thunder went 40-9 last season upon hitting the 40-win mark. That\u2019s an impressive number, and certainly is the best that the franchise has seen overall.<\/p>\n Forget 40 before 20. <\/p>\n OKC just hit 40 wins before 10 losses. pic.twitter.com\/KKyGDpMeWV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) February 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Right now, the Thunder seem capable of reaching 40 wins before 20 losses<\/a>. They are finding ways to win even without their best players. Heck, even the OKC bench knows to how to ball like a playoff team<\/a>. At this point, it\u2019s easy to expect that they\u2019ll be reaching another historic record<\/a> come All-Star Break.<\/p>\n Does the 40 Before 20 Rule Hold Up for the Thunder?<\/p>\n To be fair, the Thunder\u2019s 40-9 record last season was a promising feat. That was the best 40-before-20 since the Golden State Warriors pulled off a 40-7 campaign at that time. So far, this year\u2019s record seems so convincing that they might just be able to push towards that 40-win mark without hitting double-digit losses. To their credit, they are the only team left with a single-digit loss total. Oklahoma City may have struggled as of late, even with a lot of injuries, and yet they still managed to stay on the winning track.<\/p>\n Going back, the Thunder have never achieved the 40-before-20 feat<\/a> in franchise history, not even when they were the Seattle SuperSonics. The last time the Thunder met the 40-before-20 standard, they won a championship. Considering that they\u2019re on track to even win 40 games before 10 losses (just like 2024-25), it\u2019s quite easy to expect they\u2019d win a title again.<\/p>\n Despite having plenty of flaws in the season, there are many positives to look forward to. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> is making waves as an All-Star starter once more, along with a scorching MVP case<\/a>. Chet Holmgren<\/a> is also making the rounds for an All-Star case and is the frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year. The OKC record is still good to beat the 73-9 record set by the Warriors in 2016, provided they don\u2019t lose two more games, of course.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Ken Blaze-Imagn Images<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t