Since the 2009-10 season, the Boston Celtics have won more games than any other team in the NBA, piling up an impressive 750 victories.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Photo by Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
But now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are closing in fast. They’re just five wins behind with 745, putting them in position to take the lead soon.

For the past 15 years, the Thunder have been one of the most successful teams in the league, right up there with the Miami Heat (732 wins), Golden State Warriors (729 wins), and Los Angeles Clippers (726 wins).

A big reason for the Thunder’s success is their ability to build and maintain strong rosters. Even with major player changes over the years, they’ve stayed highly competitive. From the era of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden to today’s squad led by MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team has managed to keep winning without having to start over from scratch.

This season, the Thunder have taken things to another level. They currently have the best record in the league at 43-9, and they’ve been dominating their competition. During their recent six-game winning streak, they scored over 100 points in the first three quarters of five different games, something rarely seen in NBA history. With only 30 games left in the season, Oklahoma City is in a great position to secure the top seed in the Western Conference and possibly pass Boston for the most wins since 2009-10.

Oklahoma City Thunder This Season: Well-Balanced Powerhouse

The Thunder’s recent success has been driven by both their elite offense and historically dominant defense. They currently have a defensive rating of 104.2, which is four points better than the second-ranked team, marking the best defensive rating since the 2019-20 Milwaukee Bucks (102.5). They also lead the NBA in steals per game at 11.1, the highest mark since the 1997-98 Celtics. The Thunder have an incredible ability to force turnovers while taking care of the ball themselves, something no team in NBA history has done this well. Adding Chet Holmgren back into the lineup has made their defense even stronger, as he’s blocking 4.5 shots per game since returning from injury.

On the offensive end, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been heating up as the season continues. Their overall offensive rating is 117.5, ranking sixth in the NBA, but during their current six-game winning streak, that number has skyrocketed to 129.0. When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the floor, their offensive rating jumps even higher to 122.0, which would be the best in the league. Their three-point shooting has also improved significantly. They now rank ninth in total three-pointers made and have been the third-best team from deep during their recent hot streak. In a game against the Pelicans, they set a franchise record by hitting 27 threes, proving just how dangerous their offense has become.

Last season, the Thunder lacked size and rebounding, but Hartenstein’s addition and Holmgren’s rise have changed that. Now, they’re not just chasing the top spot, but they look like true title contenders and are on track to surpass the Celtics for the most wins since 2009-10.