The Oklahoma City Thunder have already achieved the ultimate NBA goal because they are reigning champions, but they want to get even better.
According to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, progressing and growing is possible for his squad.
Speaking to the media following OKC’s 137-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Gilgeous-Alexander said that the Thunder are better than they were last year.
“It feels like we’re a better team. Personnel in the room hasn’t really changed much—added a few rookies. Since the start of last year, we’ve had a year to get better, play together, learn each other on and off the court. It feels like we’ve had a head start in that this season. We’re dealing with injuries to start the year, but because we’ve gotten better one through 15, we’re able to plug-and-play and figure it out on the fly and still have good results. We’re definitely a better team than we were a year ago,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"We're definitely a better team than we were a year ago."@shaiglalex on the 2025-26 OKC squad! https://t.co/O6qlMRWTDD pic.twitter.com/T9LMQS3F5E
— NBA (@NBA) November 3, 2025
That’s a scary statement for the rest of the league because the Thunder were already a dominant juggernaut of a squad last season.
But Gilgeous-Alexander is backing up his words with actual success, and they are currently 7-0.
Going undefeated is a great way to start the year, but the Thunder will have to keep playing at this sort of level for the rest of the season.
That is much easier said than done, for multiple reasons.
Namely, the Western Conference has never been tougher, and the competition to make it to the Finals will be intense and cut-throat.
Secondly, the Thunder are the top target for the rest of the league because everyone wants to defeat the reigning champions.
It’s very hard for a team to win back-to-back Finals, but if anyone can do it, it’s this group.
It requires skill, which they clearly have, but the Thunder also need to believe in themselves.
This statement from Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC’s current track record proves that they do.
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