Shai Gilgeous-Alexander strolled into the interview room inside Paycom Center on Sunday, just like he’s done countless times.
He casually talked about yet another 30-point performance. The superstar guard has accumulated 70 of those since the start of last season, more than anyone else in the NBA.
Gilgeous-Alexander also talked about OKC’s 137-106 win over New Orleans, marking yet another victory. The Thunder is now 7-0 to start the season, tying a franchise record set last year by a championship team that has virtually remained the same.
But what, if anything, is different? That’s what one reporter asked.
Gilgeous-Alexander pondered for a second. The easy answer would be his never-ending ensemble of pregame fits, which he swears he’ll never repeat. But he gave an even better response.
“It feels like we’re a better team,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It feels like we’ve had a year to get better, honestly. The personnel in the room hasn’t really changed much. We added a few rookies. But since the start of last year we’ve had a year to get better, play together and learn each other on and off the court. … We’re definitely a better team than we were a year ago.”
OKC was nearly at full strength to start last season, and it overpowered opponents. It won its first seven games by an average of 17.4 points, with only one of those contests decided by single digits.
The start of this season has been vastly different. Jalen Williams (wrist), Kenrich Williams (knee) and Nikola Topić (testicular procedure) have missed all seven games. Isaiah Joe (knee) has missed five games. Chet Holmgren (back) and Alex Caruso (concussion protocol) have missed three games. Even Cason Wallace (knee) and Lu Dort (illness) have missed one game.
OKC has won by an average of 12.4 points this time around, with four of those games decided by single digits. Two of them went into double overtime.
A 7-0 record implies perfection, although that isn’t the case. The Thunder has been stretched to its ripping point on numerous occasions, leaving behind microscopic tears. But that’s how muscles are built, and OKC feels it has grown stronger from its early adversity.
“It has not been smooth sailing through the first seven games,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “We’ve played a lot of close games that we’ve had to grind out. We’ve played some games in the mud, which you have to be able to win in a lot different ways. … We’ve got some injuries, so we’ve had to lean on our depth and different combinations of people.
“The persistence that the team has shown in all of those different situations, it builds a muscle as you go through the season. You can grow through these experiences, and the team has done a good job of that through seven games.”
Individual growth has also been made within the team, starting with Gilgeous-Alexander.
The driver of OKC’s offense has become even better behind the wheel, weaving in and out of traffic before parking in one of his go-to spots. Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 60.4% from inside the arc compared to 57.1% last season. That’s better than Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen, who feasts almost exclusively on a dunker’s diet.
Then there’s Holmgren, a seemingly-ever-growing 7-footer whose game has reached new heights. He’s averaging a career-high 23 points, all while capitalizing against smaller opponents down low and stretching the floor.
It’d be a crime to not also mention Ajay Mitchell, who has somehow stolen the show on a team filled with show-stopping talent. The sophomore guard has emerged as a Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player candidate with averages of 17.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
And speaking of stealing, nobody has picked the pockets of opposing players more than Wallace, who’s averaging a league-leading three steals. His 18 total steals is the most in franchise history throughout a player’s first six games of the season, breaking a record that was previously held by Paul George (16) in 2017-18.
“I do think he’s gotten a little more intentional about his study and learning the nuances of the game,” Daigneault said of Wallace. “I think Dort and Caruso have probably helped him with that to a degree. Those guys are pretty tight, and they put a lot of work in.”
OKC will have a chance to do something different when it faces the Los Angeles Clippers on the road at 10 p.m. Tuesday (NBC). It can start a season 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.
It’s a feat that wasn’t achieved during the first era of the Thunder, which was led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. It wasn’t even achieved by last season’s squad, which won the franchise’s first championship.
But OKC won’t have tunnel vision when the ball tips off Tuesday, according to Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder will instead focus on the big picture, just like it has done countless times.
“No matter what, we always focus on using opportunities to get better,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “No matter what game it is, no matter what stage, we just try to use that opportunity to get better and take a step forward.”
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder at Clippers
TIPOFF: 10 p.m. Tuesday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California (NBC)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder ‘better team’ than last season as franchise record awaits
