It’s never an easy thing for champions to repeat as soon as they win the title. There are only a total of 13 teams ending with consecutive titles. It’s a hard thing to do in the NBA, so is the hype for the Oklahoma City Thunder still considerable? After a strong start to the season, it seems that the 2026 OKC record is not going to be as historic as it was expected to be back then.
After getting some tough losses in December and to begin 2026, the Thunder seem to be struggling. Sure, they’re still winning, but most of it has been shaky and unconvincing. With the way they’re setting the standard after last season’s triumph, it’s hard to expect less. Realistically, however, it seems that this year’s OKC is still gunning for history — just not what everyone is expecting.
Setting Realistic Expectations On The 2026 OKC Record
After the Thunder had a 24-1 start, many fans and critics were speculating whether they could beat the NBA record for most wins in a season. The 72-10 Bulls was the record to beat in 1998. Stephen Curry and the Warriors would go on to shatter that in 2016. Initially, Oklahoma City was expecting to be better. If you’re not impressed, the 2026 OKC record was predicted to be at 77-5.
A Far Cry From Initial Expectations
If there’s one thing to expect about expectations and standards — they’re likely to end in disappointment. This is the current standing for the Thunder’s record. Since going 24-1 in their first 25 games, it would become 6-6 in the next 12 games after that. By now, it should be clear that they’re not shattering any historic records. At least in the total wins department.
OKC Thunder’s record in their first 25 games: 24-1
OKC Thunder’s record in their last 11 games: 6-5
What’s going wrong with Oklahoma City? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/SsvJCchlYC
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) January 5, 2026
Still, that doesn’t disqualify them from other possible feats. Last season, the Thunder finished with a 68-14 record. That’s already the fifth best in league history, tied with the 1972-73 Celtics. This year’s prediction? It’s now being set at 67-15, just a win shy of last year’s record. Should they be able to do that, OKC is going to tie with the Warriors (2016-17, 2014-15), Spurs (2015-16), Mavericks (2006-07), Lakers (1999-00), and the Bulls (1991-92).
This isn’t much of a disappointing feat to settle for. Even for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, winning the regular season is all about giving themselves an advantage in the postseason. Everyone knows that the Thunder is playing for a championship. After winning their first title in the OKC era, they’re definitely hungry for more.
Defending Champions Can Lose Games, Too
One thing about the Thunder’s historic finish last year is that they were setting the bar too high. Not long ago, many people were saying that the Oklahoma City Thunder were too young to lead the league. They are not ready for the big stage. So when they came, saw, and conquered, the standards were changing. You can say that with the high expectations on the 2026 OKC record to begin with.
Jalen Williams: “We are human.. We get physically and mentally tired.. I think that showed during that stretch… Every team has a couple losses they wish they could get back.” pic.twitter.com/RnVQsQlNXy
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) January 8, 2026
However, no team has ever gone 82-0. Completing that feat is going to take a lot of miracles. Surely, the Thunder is allowed to lose some games as well, just like the 73-9 Warriors and the 72-10 Bulls, who also dropped games from time to time. Remember, this is an 82-game season, and it will provide teams with an opportunity to make adjustments as needed.
In fact, the Thunder should drop some games this season, rather than in the Playoffs — where every game matters.
Addressing The Hiccups For The 2026 OKC Record
No team is without flaws. The Thunder is a team that’s been problematic from shooting the three. They’re also seeing some persistent rebounding issues. Injuries have also been a problem for them — as with any other team in the NBA. After that stunning blowout loss to the Hornets, it’s definitely worth sounding the alarm.
For starters, the 2026 OKC record is still going to make history. It’s no secret that the Oklahoma City Thunder has been seeing some issues as of late. But if you’ve watched them last year, these are also the same issues that they had. So what changed?
The @hornets beat the Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by 27 points in Oklahoma City tonight.
Never in NBA history had a team faced the reigning champs and the reigning MVP in a road game and won by that much. pic.twitter.com/m6WF5qdZvV
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 6, 2026
Complacency. That championship hangover is still in there, somewhere. They are even 9-5 against teams with a record above .500 this season. Take that for huge consideration.
At this point, Oklahoma City is figuring out whatever it needs to fix. In case you didn’t notice, the starting lineup for the champs has never been consistent. It’s a sign of a work in progress. This just means that there are more expectations for the team in the coming weeks and months.
What’s The Last Word For The 2026 OKC Record
The bottom line here is that the Oklahoma City Thunder will likely be going for a strong finish in the season. No team is perfect, and the 2026 OKC record is proof of that. There are still some promising storylines worth checking for the Thunder. From Chet Holmgren surging with an All-Star campaign, Jalen Williams adjusting to his return, and even Ajay Mitchell showing his worth for the team.
Let’s also not forget the MVP campaign for SGA. There are plenty of narratives for the team at this point. Setting an OKC record that will top off the history books is a goal, yes. However, we know that this Thunder team is setting its eyes on the bigger prize: the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Featured Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
