Through these first few games of the 2025-26 campaign, it's hard not to be impressed by this OKC Thunder team.
With an undefeated 5-0 record, all of which were played against playoff or play-in teams from last year, it's clear that Oklahoma City has answered the call when facing some pretty daunting foes during these early stages of the season.
With a combination of two double overtime wins and, most recently, a comeback triumph over the Sacramento Kings, all while playing without a completely healthy roster at their disposal, this squad has once again positioned itself as the team to beat in the NBA. ESPN even has them at number one in their latest power rankings.
Up to this point, the Thunder sit atop the NBA in defensive rating and have seen a few of their young studs take massive steps forward in their on-court progressions. All things considered, things are going pretty well for the reigning champions.
However, there is a glaring weakness that this team possesses, and it's one people have refused to see up to this point.
Thunder have struggled mightily with their long-range shooting
As of this writing, the Thunder are second-to-last in three-point shooting percentage. They are currently one of only two teams in the league that are shooting under 30.0 percent from deep, boasting a mere 28.8 percent clip.
On the surface, this may come as a shock to many fans when considering they ranked first in this category back in 2023-24 (38.9) and sixth in 2024-25 (37.4).
Fortunately, they have been able to cover up these current struggles with elite defense and timely playmaking from superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but this issue may not be going away anytime soon.
Frankly, the writing may have already been on the wall during Oklahoma City's 2025 playoff run.
Over the past 15 years, there have only been two championship teams to shoot worse than 33.0 percent from beyond the arc in the postseason. Last year’s Thunder were one of them.
It’s true that sharpshooting hasn't necessarily been the focal point of the team’s identity since they began playing winning basketball, but the world saw the Thunder struggle against hot-shooting teams during last year's postseason.
In their six combined losses against Denver and Indiana (the two seven-game series that almost ruined their run), the opposing team shot 5.7 percent better from deep than they did.
This year, multiple teams await their shot to dethrone Oklahoma City. Two red-hot ball clubs, the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors, are currently one and three, respectively, in three-point shooting (41.9 and 40.8).
The Rockets, who already took OKC down to the wire in the season opener, and were tabbed as a significant competitor in the West before the season started, are shooting 40.7 percent from deep themselves, while arguably the scariest threat in the West, the San Antonio Spurs, have shot 39.3 percent amid their undefeated start.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have five perimeter “threats” shooting under 30.0 percent from downtown.
Sure, they’re undefeated, but it’s hard to see Shai and the boys maintaining top dog status shooting nearly 15.0 percent worse from distance than their top competition.
It allows for zero margin for error defensively and in the paint. One lazy turnover can be a five-point swing. If SGA gets trapped at the top, there might not be anyone to make the opposition pay.
The Thunder proved last year that elite three-point shooting is not a requirement to be a champion, but it certainly helps. Entire dynasties have been established from behind the arc.
It stretches defenses, stops opposing runs, and gives a team a chance to close in on a double-digit deficit.
Whether it is acquiring a sharpshooter before the deadline or continuously trying to develop the long-range skillsets of players like Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and Aaron Wiggins, it’s a problem that needs to be smoothed over before Oklahoma City sets its sights on a second championship.