The Oklahoma City Thunder sit atop the Western Conference with a commanding 53-12 record, yet according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, opposing players remain unconvinced about their legitimacy as a contender.
Windhorst, speaking on ESPN, revealed that teams across the league are not intimidated by Oklahoma City, despite its dominance this season.
“I hear it implicitly from other people I talk to in the league, I hear it implicitly from players out there who are like, ‘Yeah, yeah, we’ll be fine on the same side of the bracket as OKC [Thunder],’” Windhorst said, via ClutchPoints. “They just don’t respect them.”
The Thunder’s lack of deep playoff experience is a major factor in the skepticism. While the team has built an elite record, its core group—led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren—has yet to prove itself on the biggest stage.
Oklahoma City holds an 11-game lead over the second-place team, the Denver Nuggets (42-23), in the West, showcasing consistency throughout the season.
However, the only team with a better record in the NBA is the Cleveland Cavaliers (55-10), another squad that has yet to make a deep postseason run with its current roster.
Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate, averaging 32.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while leading the Thunder to the league’s second-best defensive rating.
Despite these individual successes, critics question whether Oklahoma City has the playoff-tested experience needed to compete against veteran-laden teams like the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, or Golden State Warriors.
