The Oklahoma City Thunder may only be three games into the 2024-25 season, but they remain the only undefeated team in the Western Conference.

By successively defeating the Denver Nuggets, the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks, the Thunder continued their success from last season even further. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to improve somehow with more emphasis on increasing his 3-point volume, while Chet Holmgren began to build a potential case for a snap. All-Star eye during his sophomore year.

From top to bottom, Oklahoma City has contributors who make an impact on any given night. Whether it’s Alex Caruso’s stifling defense, Aaron Wiggins’ perfection as a 3&D forward, or Isaiah Joe’s elite 3-point shooting, there are players who know their role and do it very well.

Trying to identify a weakness on the Thunder roster is borderline impossible. The two biggest issues addressed last season, rebounding and Josh Giddey’s predicament, were addressed by bringing in Isaiah Hartenstein and Caruso over the summer.

Oklahoma City has found a way to draft, draft and trade players who all fit perfectly into the system it’s trying to build, which has been one of the driving forces behind its rise to the top of the West. There aren’t many other teams in the league that contain a roster as balanced as it.

On NBA TV, analyst Sam Mitchell called the Thunder “the most cohesive group” he’s ever seen, and considering the close relationship the entire roster has with each other, that’s not an overreaction.

Oklahoma City has established a kind of brotherhood unlike any other team, aided by the youthful nature of its players. Even with a more experienced veteran like Caruso, he already fits perfectly into the culture the team has built.

You don’t have to dig deep to see the Thunder’s culture shine through. When Gilgeous-Alexander or Holmgren bring several teammates alongside them for a postgame interview, it’s clear there’s a special relationship that goes beyond just the game.

This is one of the differences that sets Oklahoma City apart from the rest of the NBA.

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