The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as a remarkable force in the NBA, clinching the championship with an extraordinarily young roster. With an average age of just 25.6 years, the Thunder are now recognized as the second youngest championship team in NBA history, surpassed only by the legendary 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers. This youthful squad not only boasts experienced veterans but also ranks ninth in the percentage of regular-season minutes played by rookies and second-year players, contributing to an impressive 23% of their total minutes. Notably, none of the eight teams with a higher percentage of minutes from these young players managed to reach the playoffs, with the 36-46 Portland Trail Blazers being the best among them.
Despite the NBA Finals being a nail-biting seven-game series, the Thunder have statistically positioned themselves as one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Below, we highlight three key statistics that define their epic season.
The Thunder have made history by becoming just the fourth team in the league to achieve 84 wins in a single season, joining the ranks of the iconic 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (88-18), 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (87-13), and the 1996-97 Bulls (84-17). Over the course of 105 games, they outscored their opponents by an astounding 1,243 points, setting a record for the largest cumulative point differential in NBA history. Their average point differential of 11.8 points per game ranks fourth all-time, significantly ahead of the fifth-place team, the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
The Thunder also created an unprecedented record with 12 wins by at least 30 points in both the regular season and playoffs combined. Furthermore, they are the sole team in NBA history to secure multiple playoff victories by margins exceeding 40 points.
In addition to their offensive prowess, the Thunder excelled defensively throughout the regular season, leading the league by a substantial margin. They allowed an average of 2.5 fewer points per 100 possessions than the second-best team, the Orlando Magic, marking one of the largest defensive differentials between the top two teams in the last 29 seasons.
During the playoffs, the Thunder demonstrated their defensive might by limiting the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets to 19.6 and 15.0 fewer points per 100 possessions, respectively, compared to their regular-season averages. These performances rank as the second and thirteenth largest differentials recorded in playoff history.
The Thunder's defensive strategy was characterized by a remarkable ability to force turnovers and protect the rim. They recorded 10.2 steals per 100 possessions, the highest rate in the last 12 seasons, and maintained a playoff rate of 10.7 steals per 100 possessions, the most for any team that progressed beyond the first round in 26 years. Their total of 247 steals in the postseason surpassed any team's record over the 52 years that steals have been tracked.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made history by becoming the first player in 25 years to achieve the regular-season MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season. He is also one of only four players to average at least 30 points per game for an NBA champion, joining the ranks of legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, and Michael Jordan.
Throughout this historic season, Gilgeous-Alexander was not only the most efficient scorer but also led the league in assists per game, averaging 30 points per game across the regular season and playoffs combined. His true shooting percentage of 62.2% is the highest among the 24 players who have averaged at least 32 points per game over more than 80 total games.
Moreover, Gilgeous-Alexander's remarkable performance included 15 playoff games with at least 30 points, just one shy of the record held by Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. He also set a new benchmark with 12 playoff games where he scored at least 30 points and contributed five assists, the most by any player in a single postseason.
As the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their historic triumph, they not only redefine youth in the NBA but also set new standards for excellence in both offense and defense, ensuring their place in the annals of basketball history.
