Sports takes are often heavily influenced by a "what have you done for me lately" kind of mentality. The OKC Thunder are currently learning this the hard way with Bleacher Report's latest rankings debate.
In a recent piece discussing the pecking order of the game's top star trios following the 2025-26 campaign, Oklahoma City's core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren rang in at third, trailing Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper of the Spurs, and Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby of the Knicks, respectively.
This placement is in stark contrast to last year's rankings, where the aforementioned Thunder trio reigned supreme as the publication's top choice.
While New York and San Antonio's Big Threes certainly are deserving of praise and respect for their achievements, especially considering both helped lead their squads to the 2026 NBA Finals, it's hard not to feel that this take by B/R is a clear example of them suffering from a severe case of recency bias, for, when a healthy Shai, J-Dub, and Chet share the hardwood together, OKC is virtually unstoppable.
People have clearly forgotten just how dominant Thunder stars are
It seems people have forgotten just how dominant this Thunder team has proven itself to be when their Big Three take to the floor.
Back during their title-winning 2024-25 season, this trio placed in the 93 percentile in points per 100 possessions (122.4), the 96 percentile in effective field goal percentage (58.9), and 97 percentile in point differential (plus-14.3).
This past year, even while dealing with J-Dub's injuries, the three still proved to be absolutely lethal on both ends of the floor, placing in the 95 percentile in opponent points per 100 possessions (107.2), the 96 percentile in their own points per 100 possessions (123.9), the 97 percentile in effective field goal percentage (59.2), and the 99 percentile in point differential (plus-16.7).
Since joining forces, the Thunder have yet to finish lower than the number one seed in the West standings, and, while hobbled by health-related ailments, have gone to two straight conference finals.
The first run led to a championship with Chet hobbled by a right iliac wing fracture and J-Dub playing through a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, ultimately requiring offseason surgery, while the second saw them finish one win shy of heading back to the title round due to Williams being largely sidelined for the postseason with a nagging hamstring strain.
Unlike the trios ahead of them, all are established All-Star, All-NBA, and, in Shai's case, MVP-winning talents in their mid-20s who have already guided their squad to ultimate glory. When considering advanced metrics and in-season accomplishments, it's tough to choose any other Big Three over Shai, J-Dub, and Chet when at full strength.
Of course, it seems Bleacher Report has forgotten this very real sentiment after the injury-plagued season they just had.
Hopefully, they'll remind the rest of the league of just how lethal they are during the forthcoming 2026-27 season.
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