The Oklahoma City Thunder is the second team this year to reach 40 wins before 10 losses behind the Cavaliers. They have been riding their number one ranked defense all year to get them to this point. In addition, the Thunder have a point differential this season of 13, which would be the best in NBA history. However, the Thunder also had an outstanding defense last year as they were ranked fourth in total defense. Even though they were ranked fourth, the Thunder didn’t have anyone make an All-Defensive team. However, now with the number one ranked defense and one of the best defenses in NBA history, how many all-defensive players should the Thunder get this year?
If you didn’t realize how good the Thunder’s defense was, last night’s game against the Phoenix Suns was the perfect example of it. At the beginning of the game, it seemed like one of those games where OKC wasn’t totally focused. It was game 49 of the season and only a couple of games away from the All-Star break; understandably, the Thunder weren’t 100% locked in to the game. The Suns scored 63 points in the first half while shooting 60% from the field. However, after halftime, the Thunder were a completely different team on the defensive end of the floor. In the third quarter, they held the Suns to 1 of 13 shooting and allowed just 16 points. They outscored the Suns 79-46. Let’s dive into how many All-Defensive players this Thunder team should get.
Thunder defense held the Suns to 1 of 13 shooting in the 3rd quarter.
That is not a typo. Phoenix made 1 field goal.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 6, 2025
How Many All-Defensive Players Should the Thunder Get?
Lu Dort Should Make His First All-Defensive Team
Lu Dort has been the Thunder’s main point-of-attack defender since 2020. Every night, he is tasked to cover the other team’s best player as he can cover positions one through four. Everyone around the league knows how good of a defender Dort has been in his career. However, he has yet to make an All-Defensive team. Last year, he was close to making it as he was just outside the top 10 at number 11. Dort never gets the big steal or block numbers that some of the other players who made it got.
However, that isn’t what makes Dort a great defender. The things that do are relentlessly fighting over every screen set on him to stay attached to his man. In addition, he uses his pure strength to keep the player in front of him and force stars to take very difficult, highly contested shots. When Dort is guarding someone, they usually shoot way below their percentages and score fewer points than they average. A perfect example of this is what he did to Brandon Ingram in the playoffs last year, as he completely took him out of the game. This year, he is doing the same thing, but he also has the steals and blocks now to back his case up even more.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Has Been a Two-Way Star
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been playing like he is the best player in the world lately. Last night, he just scored his third 50-point performance of his career, with all three coming in this year. Shai is the frontrunner for MVP, and his two-way abilities are central to his case. However, that might not be the only accolade he takes home this year, as he has a great chance to make an All-Defensive team as well.
Like Dort, he missed the cut last year, and if there had been an All-Defensive third team, he would have made it. Now, he isn’t the one-one-one defender like Dort is, and he doesn’t have to be. However, what makes him a great defender is how he reads the floor and is always in the passing lanes. He is a very smart team defender and knows how to strip you at the right time to get a steal. This year, he is averaging two steals per game and one block per game.
Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace Have a Case
Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace also have strong cases to make the All-Defensive team as well. Williams’ ability to guard all positions was a big help when the Thunder were without a big guy for a couple of games. Similar to SGA, he is averaging 1.8 steals and .7 blocks per game. Cason Wallace has become a full-time starter for the Thunder because of the defensive presence he brings. He allows Dort not to have to cover the fast twitchy guards all the time, and he can focus on the stronger wings. He is also averaging almost two steals a game.
However, Jalen and Cason most likely won’t make it because the Thunder aren’t going to get four players on the All-Defensive teams. All four players have been crucial to why they have the number one ranked defense and should all be rewarded as such. Nonetheless, the best case scenario is the Thunder get at least two with a possible third player making it.
The Last Word
The Thunder have plenty of talented defenders on their roster, which is why they have the league’s best defense. This is also without mentioning what Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso bring to the mix. Even though the Thunder have four players who have great cases to make the All-Defensive teams. There are so many great defenders out there that it would be hard for all four of them to make it. However, since they have the best defense in the NBA, they should at least get two players on the defensive teams. Those two players should be Dort and Shai.
Photo credit: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
