Going into Saturday’s matchup, the Thunder had matched the 2015/16 Warriors for the best 25-game start the league has ever seen, a comparison that naturally brings historic expectations with it.
That Golden State team famously went on to finish 73-9, surpassing the Bulls’ long-standing regular-season wins record, though their season ultimately ended in disappointment with a Finals loss to Cleveland.
Speaking Friday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged that surpassing the Warriors’ benchmark would carry real significance for Oklahoma City.
He said it would “absolutely” matter to the group if they were able to carve their name into the record books in that way. At the same time, he was careful to stress that chasing history is not the Thunder’s primary motivation.
According to ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon, Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized that the bigger picture remains the same for Oklahoma City: defending its championship and continuing to improve on a daily basis.
Gilgeous-Alexander has played 8 seasons for the Thunder and Clippers. He has averaged 24.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 487 regular-season games. He was selected to play in 3 All-Star games.
He has won 1 MVP award, 1 Finals MVP award, and 1 NBA championship.
Thunder Notes: SGA, J-Dub, Win Mark, Caruso, Topic https://t.co/ZXQy5uTNBA
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 14, 2025
