OKLAHOMA CITY — The Thunder weren’t satisfied with being elite. They wanted to be overwhelming.
After ranking fourth in defensive rating last season, the Thunder doubled down on their identity — and built the best defense in the NBA.
Building the Foundation
Their transformation started with personnel. General manager Sam Presti added Alex Caruso via trade and Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency — two veterans known for defense and leadership. They joined a group already anchored by elite defenders like Luguentz Dort and Chet Holmgren.
The result: an NBA-best 106.6 defensive rating, the lowest allowed in nearly a decade.
“They rely heavily on their defensive stoppers,” Mavericks star Kyrie Irving said earlier this season, “which there are practically five of them out there at one time.”
Schemes, Swarms, and Stoppers
Head coach Mark Daigneault and defensive coordinator Dave Bliss now have a rotation flexible enough to adapt on the fly. From jumbo lineups with two 7-footers to fast-switching small-ball units, OKC’s defense creates confusion — and chaos.
The Thunder led the NBA in:
Steals per game (10.3)
Turnovers forced (17.0)
Points off turnovers (21.8)
All three categories were league highs this millennium — and those numbers spiked to 10.8 steals and 26.3 points off turnovers in their first-round sweep of the Grizzlies.
An Identity-Defining Sequence
In Game 2 vs. Denver, the Thunder’s identity was on full display. When Nikola Jokic tried to bully Holmgren in the post, the rookie swiped the entry pass away. Wallace batted the ball, Dort grabbed it, and Gilgeous-Alexander went coast-to-coast in five seconds for a scoop layup.
No scheme change, just sharp execution. As Daigneault said, “Everybody was flying around.”
Caruso’s Moment, Thunder’s Statement
In Game 3 of the first round, Caruso ripped the ball from Scotty Pippen Jr. with under a minute left and OKC up three. It was a defining moment of a 29-point comeback — the second-largest in playoff history.
Memphis finished the second half with more turnovers (13) than made shots (9).
“Our defense is our superpower,” Caruso said. “When we’re locked in on that side of the ball, we’re an unstoppable force.”
What’s Next
The Thunder’s defensive dominance has powered them through the playoffs. Even with Holmgren missing time due to injury, the system never faltered. And now, with the series tied against Denver, OKC has shown once again that defense doesn’t just stop opponents — it starts everything.
