It wasn't long ago that the OKC Thunder were considered the darlings of the NBA. The team was easy to root for, with superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading a group of hard-working guys who played egoless basketball and avoided off-court drama.
Recent events, however, have caused a shift in this narrative, with Lu Dort's antics against Nuggets star Nikola Jokic being the straw that broke the camel's back.
The incident sparked controversy across the league and led to a new word being thrown around to describe the reigning champs: villains.
Bill Simmons just hurled heavy accusations at Thunder
Many have questioned the Thunder's ethics this season, and the founder of The Ringer, Bill Simmons, is the latest to hop on the trend.
"[Lu Dort's foul on Jokic] was the dirtiest thing anyone did this year. It was inexcusable. I can't believe he did it... [The Thunder] are leaning into their inner villain now," Simmons said.
His critique of Dort's actions was accompanied by accusations of foul-baiting by SGA and of Sam Presti for only being pro-tanking when it suits him.
Along with these hot-button topics, the Thunder have been accused of fouling on defense, throwing cheap jabs at opposing scorers, and completely robbing the Sixers in the Jared McCain deal at the deadline.
Thunder's "villain era" could be summed up another way
There is an alternative conclusion to the narrative that has been pushed by the media -- The Thunder are simply good at their jobs.
The "villain" card is nothing new in sports. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, New England Patriots, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers have all been lambasted in a similar way at one point in time, all because they won in dominant fashion.
Now that the Thunder are pushing for their third straight playoff berth as the first overall seed in the West, they are learning what it is like to receive the top-dog treatment.
Sports fanbases will always find new ways to dig up dirt on their betters, and, in this case, their target resides in Oklahoma City.
The numerous accusations have spanned from officiating to defensive physicality. Whether they have been warranted or not is up for debate.
In Dort's case, however, fans may have trouble coming to his defense.
Lu Dort situation is unique compared to the rest of the Thunder slander
In most cases, the Thunder have been on the receiving end of instigation. The Timberwolves, for example, have publicly slammed OKC for fouling and getting away with it. The comments weren't front-page news until coach Chris Finch got ejected for blowing up about the issue in a game earlier this season.
The Thunder have also been part of a few bench-clearing scuffles this year, but none of them have been started by the blue and orange.
Lu Dort has put the team in a unique situation with his needless instigation.
His indisputable cheap shot left little room for controversy. In response, the rest of the NBA has used it as an excuse to further the villain narrative, citing Friday's antics as its main justification.
Whether the Thunder fight those accusations or embrace them as part of their new identity will be an intriguing storyline moving forward.