The Oklahoma City Thunder are navigating a difficult period, having lost four of their last five games, including a 103-111 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on May 31, 2026. This recent form stands in stark contrast to the historic individual season from their superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just secured his second consecutive Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award. His performance made the Thunder the league's top regular-season team with a 64-18 record, but the current 1W-4L run highlights new challenges.
How dominant was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't just a superstar. He's an elite scorer, a primary playmaker, and the definitive leader for Oklahoma City. For the 2025-26 season, he averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. His shooting splits were remarkable, hitting 55.3 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point range.
Winning back-to-back MVP awards placed him among just 14 players in NBA history to achieve that feat. His impact translated directly to team success. The Thunder finished with the NBA's best record and a league-leading +11.1 net rating. You can explore his complete season stats on our stats page.
What makes the Thunder so difficult to defend?
The system in Oklahoma City maximizes Gilgeous-Alexander's unique skills without overburdening him. He can attack the rim, operate from the mid-range, draw fouls, and create for others when plays break down. Defenses are stressed from the moment he's on the floor.
NBA.com tracked him with the league's highest perimeter off-ball gravity at 20.1. This means defenders are pulled toward him more than expected, even when he doesn't have the ball. When he does drive, he's devastating. Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA with 14.0 points per game on drives, shooting 59.2 percent on those attempts.
He doesn't carry the load alone. Chet Holmgren averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, earning All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Jalen Williams provided another creative outlet, averaging 17.1 points and 5.5 assists. This supporting cast allows the offense to thrive without constant isolation.
Why is Gilgeous-Alexander considered the best closer?
His value skyrockets when the game is on the line. The NBA named him the 2025-26 Kia Clutch Player of the Year after he led the league with 175 total clutch points. Clutch situations are defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime with a score within five points.
In those high-pressure moments, he averaged 6.5 clutch points per game and hit 16 go-ahead field goals. The Thunder posted a stellar 124.5 offensive rating and a +23.8 net rating in clutch time. Gilgeous-Alexander scored his 175 clutch points on 51.5 percent shooting over 125.1 clutch minutes.
His season-long plus/minus of +788 was the best in the NBA, over 100 points ahead of the second-ranked player. This statistical dominance in winning time cemented his reputation as the league's premier late-game operator.
What's next for the Oklahoma City Thunder?
The team's championship window is clearly open, built around a young core led by a back-to-back MVP. However, their recent form of four consecutive losses shows the competitive balance of the NBA. Every team adjusts, and sustaining regular-season dominance into the playoffs is a different challenge.
Integrating Holmgren and Williams more fully into late-game execution will be key for long-term playoff success. The full squad, as seen on our roster page, has the talent to compete for years. The immediate task is regrouping from this tough 1-4 stretch. They must rediscover the defensive intensity and offensive flow that powered their 64-win campaign. The journey continues, and their response to this adversity will define their next chapter.
