It's not exactly easy to be a small-market team in the NBA. The media typically covers the league through its big cities and superteams, often letting many others slip through the cracks of conversation. The success story that is the OKC Thunder has been overwhelming enough to defy normalities and make it to the mainstream media discourse -- but not in a good way.
Via a recent appearance on ESPN's First Take, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo made it known that he doesn't believe in the team's legitimacy as a championship favorite.
"They could not score in big situations with the season on the line in Dallas," Russo said. "I like neither team [Cleveland Cavaliers] to go to the NBA Final[s]."
Russo isn't alone in his stance, as Golden State Warriors forward and podcaster Draymond Green commented on the Thunder earlier this season as well, noting:
"There's a certain seriousness that it takes to win in this league, and there's a certain fear you have to instill in teams in order to win. I just don't know if they're instilling that fear in teams."
Maybe fear isn't the answer. The embracing culture that the organization has created over the years is strong, and has made lasting impacts on both current and past players.
The franchise's all-time leading scorer, Russell Westbrook, recently returned to OKC as a visiting member of the opposing Denver Nuggets. Yet, when checking into the game, he was met with an eruption of cheers from the Paycom Center crowd.
Russell Westbrook checks in in Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/IewxG8OugO
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) March 9, 2025
"That placed raised me. I’m from LA to the core, but when I got there, those people believed in me," The 2016-17 MVP said following the contest. "They took me in — my family, my friends. It’s home to me."
This season, the success for Oklahoma City has been just as strong on the court as off of it.
The team ranks first in net rating, has clinched their second-straight playoff appearance, and has a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the No. 2 spot on the Kia MVP Ladder.
Recently, however, former Thunder All-Star Chris Paul thinks his mentee should be a spot higher.
Chris Paul joins Russell Westbrook in Thunder praise amid recent slander
"Shai could possibly be, should be the MVP this year," Paul said. "They found a way to make everyone equal."
While Gilgeous-Alexander has certainly led the charge in individual success, he hasn't left his teammates behind.
Along with the West's best record of 54-12, the Thunder boast the league's highest net rating at 12.3. Gilgeous-Alexander's gravity and leadership have allowed third-year forward Jalen Williams to fully break out, earning his first All-Star appearance.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in individual net rating at 16.1, but is joined by six teammates in the top 15 (minimum 50 games played): Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams.
Seven players in the top 15 is the most among any team in the association, proving that sharing the court with the point guard leads to more success than any other.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's search for his first MVP will continue, as he and Nikola Jokic have seemingly taken over the race for themselves. Support from his current and former teammates like Chris Paul as not only a statistical monster but also a leader will likely help his case.
While national media coverage may be inconsistent, the organization's ties to players and the community never falter.