This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have positioned themselves as legitimate contenders not just for a deep playoff run, but for historic regular‑season dominance. After a breakout 2024‑25 campaign that ended with a franchise‑best 68 wins already among the top five single‑season win totals in NBA history, the Thunder enter 2025‑26 with soaring expectations. With their core intact and momentum high, some analysts now suggest they could challenge the 73-win record set by the Golden State Warriors in 2015‑16. The question, then, is not whether the Thunder can win a lot of games; they almost certainly will, but whether they can sustain the consistency, health, and focus needed over 82 games to set a new high‑water mark. Given their current trajectory, it’s a tantalizing possibility.
The Thunder’s case for breaking the win record rests on several strong pillars. First, their 2024‑25 season was historic: 68–14, a league‑leading point differential, and a dominant stretch of victories that showcased both offensive firepower and defensive discipline. Second, this season opens with renewed optimism: a healthy roster, improved chemistry, and a young core continuing to develop under pressure. Their early-season performance has reportedly kept them atop power rankings, maintaining pace with historic record-setting teams. Third, their schedule and relative luck so far, including favorable stretches of home games and manageable back-to-backs, could help them avoid the pitfalls that have derailed other great teams on long season runs.
Still, there are significant challenges to surmount before the Thunder can realistically dream of 74 wins. The 82-game grind demands consistency across varied opponents, travel, injuries, and the mental strain of maintaining focus, hurdles that have tripped up even the greatest teams in NBA history. Moreover, expectations and external pressure can amplify fatigue or complacency, especially when teams begin to attract media and fan attention while chasing records. There is also the risk of injury, a key one that could derail momentum. Finally, the history of record-chasing teams is mixed: the 2015‑16 Warriors lost in the Finals despite their 73-win regular season, a reminder that dominance in the regular season doesn’t guarantee championship glory. If the Thunder manage to control injuries, stay motivated, and maintain their current form, a run at 74 wins is within reach and would seriously shake up the record books. Even if they fall short of the record, a 65–70 win season would still cement their place among the best regular-season teams of the modern era. Such a season would elevate playoff expectations and solidify their identity as a league powerhouse.
In conclusion, yes, this year’s Oklahoma City Thunder absolutely have a shot at breaking the NBA regular-season win record. Their recent performance, depth, youthful energy, and organizational stability give them a rare opportunity to chase history. But doing so will require near-perfect execution, health, and mental resilience over a long, grueling schedule. Whether or
not they get all the way to 74 wins, their campaign this season already promises to be one for the history books, and if they succeed, it might redefine what dominance looks like in the modern NBA.
