An 0-2 team has never looked as promising as the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2026 preseason squad.
Up against two teams essentially playing their regular-season lineups, the Thunder's preseason roster has lit it up offensively.
In their second game, the first half was nearly flawless. With many of the usual starters playing in the first half, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso, the offense looked unstoppable.
With a combination of the dramatic roster shakeup and some new philosophies they've seemingly adopted, the OKC offense is shaping up to be the best it's been in the Thunder's championship era.
Thunder's off-ball movement and passing unlock unlimited opportunities
A surprising development took place this offseason that Thunder fans have long waited for: SGA off-ball movement.
There was a sneak peek at this change during Team Canada's play in this summer's FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. Many saw it as a fever dream of an evolution, but the fantasy is becoming more realistic by the day.
The two-time MVP moved everywhere, setting off-ball screens, running through others' off-ball picks, and creating some of the easiest looks he's had in years. This change, and, of course, his proven offensive excellence, made him go perfect from the field and score 17 points in 17 minutes.
Of course, SGA wasn't just scoring -- his playmaking was on full display, most famously with his one-handed lob to rookie Aday Mara. His kickouts are also even more dangerous, with proven sharpshooters like Jared McCain and Bennett Stirtz on the receiving end.
Aside from his improvements, the entire team's offense was moving differently. A big reason was the presence of Mara, who has yet to miss a shot this preseason.
The Michigan rookie has been a flawless fit so far, filling multiple much-needed roles and really pushing the pace on offense. As soon as he grabs a rebound, he looks for the outlet pass and is finding every open player while operating in the post.
In last year's regular season, they posted the seventh-best offensive rating but ranked 25th in assist percentage. They were consistently missing Jalen Williams' offensive presence, leading to a lot of "go make a play" from SGA rather than a cohesive, complex offense.
With Mara, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams, OKC has three great big-man facilitators. Three gifted big-man passers, as well as a team that moves much more in the half-court, are the recipe for success everyone's been waiting for.
The cherry on top: Jalen Williams looks as good as ever. He dominated in transition, drove at will, hit open players, and slotted into the new Thunder offense beautifully.
OKC's 25 first-half assists, 82 points, 60.8 field goal percentage, and 12 threes are all the most in any team's most recent game.
In a game without Chet Holmgren, Hartenstein, and Jay Will, the team still produced an outstanding offensive performance against the Milwaukee Bucks' regular-season roster.
The team's weaknesses are the strongest points of their preseason performance: ball movement, hitting open threes, and getting SGA easier opportunities.
It may just be one half of a preseason game, but the roster changes already look like brilliant moves, and it has opened the door to the offense being able to engine many more wins than in years prior.
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