The Oklahoma City Thunder's 102.8 defensive rating is by far the best mark in the entire NBA.
While impactful defenders such as Alex Caruso have plenty of talent on that side of the ball, there is one specific skill that head coach Mark Daigneault pointed out as a reason behind OKC's defensive success.
According to Daigneault, the Thunder's all-around "awareness" has been the difference-maker.
"Awareness is a skill," Daigneault told ESPN's Tim Legler, via the NBA's account on X (formerly Twitter). "We coach the awareness of understanding what our strengths are on the floor."
OKC Thunder are a truly dominant defensive force
Daigneault said the Thunder discuss what the team's strengths are on the defensive end of the floor. The coaching in this specific facet of the game centers around knowing which other players are on the court and how each guy can positively contribute.
This understanding makes the difference.
With all of that being said, overall awareness is something that is incredibly difficult to teach. It almost becomes second nature for defensive stars like Caruso.
Understanding where to be at certain moments, knowing who the opponent is and how they attack on offense, and developing habits that lead to strong plays on defense are all crucial.
Caruso's 93.4 defensive rating -- which leads the Thunder -- speaks to his defensive IQ and skill set. He certainly has the awareness Daigneault talked about.
Oklahoma City has two other players with defensive ratings below 100 as well -- Ajay Mitchell (98.7) and Chet Holmgren (99.7). Meanwhile, Isaiah Joe's 100.3 and Jaylin Williams' 100.7 round out the top five.
Some teams around the NBA have multiple defensive stars. Yet even in those circumstances, the overall defense sometimes fails to find consistent success.
The aforementioned awareness needs to also include chemistry and communication.
The Thunder pass the eye test in that regard. If one watches an OKC basketball game, they will see a defensive unit that is unquestionably on the same page.
Players are constantly talking, which leads to the correct switches and overall strong defensive habits.
Oklahoma City has a legitimate opportunity to have one of the best defensive seasons of all time.
The 2025-26 NBA campaign is far from over, so there is still work to be done. Nevertheless, the Thunder's defense has played a crucial role in their league-leading 17-1 record.
The Thunder will look to continue their momentum on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in what projects to be a highly competitive affair.