The Oklahoma City Thunder may have hit a few speed bumps in December, but make no mistake - they’re still very much the team to beat.
After racing out to a blistering 24-1 start, with their only early-season loss coming against Portland, the defending champs looked every bit like a squad ready to run it back. But December brought turbulence. The Thunder dropped multiple games, including three to the San Antonio Spurs - a team that seemed to have their number for a stretch.
But if there’s one thing championship teams do well, it’s respond.
Oklahoma City has done just that. January has brought renewed energy and focus, and the Thunder are back to playing with the kind of rhythm and confidence that made them last year’s title winners.
The most telling sign? A statement win over the Spurs - the same team that had handed them those humbling losses just weeks earlier.
Jalen Williams, who’s been steadily finding his groove all season, offered some insight into what’s changed.
“We’ve been a lot healthier, which is a big one,” Williams said following the team’s fifth straight win. “So everybody’s settling into a role more. Guys know the minutes that we’re going to have.”
That clarity has made a difference. When roles are defined and rotations are stable, teams can lock in - and that’s exactly what Oklahoma City has done. The Thunder aren’t just winning again; they’re winning their way, with the kind of execution and discipline that’s become their calling card under head coach Mark Daigneault.
Williams also pointed to the team’s internal standards - a subtle but important detail. This isn’t a group satisfied with simply stacking wins.
They have a process, and they’re focused on doing things the right way, not just getting the right result. That kind of mindset is what separates contenders from pretenders.
Despite the December dip, the Thunder never lost sight of who they are. And now that the roster is getting healthier and the chemistry is clicking again, they’re looking more and more like the juggernaut that tore through the league earlier in the season.
Yes, teams like the Spurs have studied them, found cracks, and even exploited them. But the Thunder have adjusted - and that adaptability is what makes them so dangerous.
They’re not just talented. They’re evolving.
As we move deeper into the season, Oklahoma City isn’t just back on track - they’re reminding everyone why they were the preseason favorites. They’ve weathered adversity, recalibrated, and now, with momentum building and confidence surging, the rest of the NBA should be on high alert.
Because when the Thunder are healthy, locked in, and playing to their standard? There might not be anyone better.