The Oklahoma City Thunder had a historic season, finishing with a 68-14 record and outscoring opponents by an impressive 12.9 points per game, setting a new NBA record for point differential that had stood for over 50 years. The previous mark was held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who had outscored teams by 12.3 points per game. For the season, the Thunder accumulated 1,055 more points than their opponents.
Head coach Mark Daigneault expressed pride in his team’s achievements but emphasized the need to stay hungry for more. “We can appreciate and be grateful for the things we’ve accomplished and still be hungry,” he said.
The Thunder’s dominant performance saw them win the Western Conference by an overwhelming 16 games over the second-place Houston Rockets. Their 68 wins tied the 1972-73 Boston Celtics for the sixth-best record in NBA history. The only teams with better records are the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73-9), 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10), 1996-97 Bulls (69-13), 1971-72 Lakers (69-13), and 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (68-13).
This season also saw the Thunder eclipse legendary teams like the 1971-72 Lakers, 1995-96 Bulls, and 2016-17 Warriors, who all went on to win the NBA championship.
Daigneault acknowledged the significance of the franchise’s record for wins and other accomplishments but stressed that the team’s journey is far from over. “We’re grateful for them and we can still be hungry despite that,” he added.
As the favorites to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Thunder will begin their playoff campaign at home on April 20, facing either Golden State, Memphis, Sacramento, or Dallas.
