Despite coming off of a historic 2023-24 season and producing yet again as one of the top ball clubs the game has to offer, the OKC Thunder continue to find themselves being somewhat disrespected by the league.
From their lack of favorable foul calls made by officiating teams to their lowly total of nationally broadcast games, the West's top-seeded Oklahoma City seems to constantly be treated like a second-class organization.
Perhaps the most noteworthy example of the Thunder being overlooked and underappreciated by the NBA comes in the form of their omission from this year's Christmas Day programming.
December 25 is unanimously viewed as the biggest day on the league's regular season schedule, as it generally sees some of their highest viewership totals and, in turn, they reserve games for the best teams they have to offer.
Interestingly enough, however, despite coming off a top-seeded finish last year and boasting the third-best record in the association, Oklahoma City has not participated in the holiday festivities since 2018-19.
The Thunder are viewed in higher regard, or at the very least the same level as the 10 teams actually slotted into the X-Mas Day schedule, and both the eye test along with on-paper metrics easily back up this stance.
How Thunder stack up against every NBA Christmas Day participant
Thunder
- Record: 23-5
- Conference standing: No. 1
- Points per game: 115.1 (No. 9)
- Offensive rating: 114.8 (No. 7)
- Defensive rating: 102.9 (No. 1)
- Net rating: 11.9 (No.1)
- Established All-Stars: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
San Antonio spurs
- Record: 15-14
- Conference standing: No. 9
- Points per game: 111.6 (No. 19)
- Offensive rating: 111.4 (No. 18)
- Defensive rating: 112.9 (T-No. 15)
- Net rating: -1.5 (T-No. 16)
- Established All-Stars: Chris Paul
New York Knicks
- Record: 19-10
- Conference standing: No. 3
- Points per game: 117.3 (No. 6)
- Offensive rating: 120.2 (No. 2)
- Defensive rating: 112.5 (T-No. 15)
- Net rating: 7.7 (No. 5)
- Established All-Stars: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Record: 14-14
- Conference standing: No. 10
- Points per game: 109.3 (No. 23)
- Offensive rating: 110.3 (No. 23)
- Defensive rating: 108.3 (No. 6)
- Net rating: 2.0 (T-No. 12)
- Established All-Stars: Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley
Dallas Mavericks:
- Record: 19-10
- Conference standing: No. 4
- Points per game: 118.8 (No. 5)
- Offensive rating: 117.4 (No. 4)
- Defensive rating: 110.9 (T-No. 10)
- Net rating: 6.4 (No. 7)
- Established: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson
Philadelphia 76ers
- Record: 10-17
- Conference standing: No. 12
- Points per game: 105.9 (No. 29)
- Offensive rating: 107.6 (No. 27)
- Defensive rating: 112.2 (No. 13)
- Net rating: -4.6 (No. 23)
- Established All-Stars: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond
Boston Celtics
- Record: 22-7
- Conference standing: No. 2
- Points per game: 119.1 (No. 4)
- Offensive rating: 118.9 (No. 3)
- Defensive rating: 109.3 (No. 7)
- Net Rating: 9.6 (No. 3)
- Established All-Stars: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford
Los Angeles Lakers
- Record: 16-3
- Conference standing: No. 7
- Points per game: 111.2 (No. 20)
- Offensive rating: 111.5 (T-No. 16)
- Defensive rating: 114.5 (No. 21)
- Net Rating: -3.0 (No. 21)
- Established All-Stars: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell
Golden State Warriors
- Record: 15-3
- Conference standing: No. 8
- Points per game: 112.8 (T-No. 14)
- Offensive rating: 111.7 (No. 15)
- Defensive rating: 109.7 (T-No. 8)
- Net rating: 2.0 (T-No. 12)
- Established All-Stars: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins
Denver Nuggets
- Record: 16-11
- Conference standing: No. 5
- Points per game: 119.8 (No. 3)
- Offensive rating: 115.8 (No. 6)
- Defensive rating: 112.5 (T-No. 14)
- Net rating: 3.3 (No. 9)
- Established All-Stars: Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan
Phoenix Suns
- Record: 14-14
- Conference standing: No. 11
- Points per game: 113.4 (No. 12)
- Offensive rating: 114 (No. 9)
- Defensive rating: 115.8 (No. 24)
- Net rating: -1.8 (No. 18)
- Established All-Stars: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal