While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams lead the Oklahoma City Thunder as the team's superstars, there is another Big Three getting the job done on the defensive end of the floor.
Guards Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort, and Cason Wallace have set the tone for one of the NBA's best defensive units -- and their production should not be overlooked.
The Thunder currently hold the league's best defensive rating with a quality mark of 104.8. Oklahoma City holds a significant lead over the San Antonio Spurs, who are second in the NBA at 108.2.
While the frontcourt does a respectable job, it is the OKC backcourt that has been taking care of business throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
Under-the-radar Thunder big three making a huge difference
The SGA-led offense has been tremendous, but the Thunder's defensive attack is a pivotal reason why the team is 8-0 to begin the new season.
There are a number of reliable defensive guards on the roster. Caruso, Dort, and Wallace, however, have significantly impacted the defense both with unquestioned effort and talent that is difficult to teach.
Defense helped the Thunder win their championship a season ago, and, excitingly enough, it has taken another step forward this year.
This Thunder squad makes it extremely challenging for opponents to score. Nothing comes easy for teams when playing against them.
Caruso is second in defensive rating among players who have appeared in five or more games. Ajay Mitchell, Branden Carlson, and Chris Youngblood are not far behind.
When it comes to steals per game, Wallace is tied for the league lead with an average of 2.7 per game. Caruso is also within the top ten with 2.0 steals per outing.
This Thunder defense also features five players within the top 10 of defensive win shares. Mitchell and Caruso are third and fourth overall in the NBA, while Aaron Wiggins and Dort are technically both tied for fifth.
Chet Holmgren, meanwhile, is eighth overall.
Dort is part of the Thunder's underlying Big Three given his defensive reputation. He finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting a season ago and often guards an opposing team's best players.
Caruso is an established defender as well, while Wallace -- who is only 21 years old -- looks like a future star on the defensive end of the floor.
While the Big Three narrative is enticing, Mitchell has also proven to be another reliable defensive guard on this team. Oklahoma City's backcourt talents are elite when it comes to defending the perimeter, something that causes havoc for opponents when it comes to setting up their offense.
OKC's entire defense is strong, and the aforementioned guards are leading the charge.