Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Mark Daigneault were nominees for NBA Monthly Awards

The Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten off to a fast start, sitting at 12-6 after the first month of the NBA season, good enough for the second seed in the NBA's Western Conference. This has been in large part due to their MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, breakout rookie Chet Holmgren, and captain of the ship Mark Daigneault.

Chet Holmgren was able to take home the first Rookie of the Month award of the season, knocking off Victor Wembanyama for the top spot in the Western Conference.

Holmgren continues an impressive trend in Oklahoma City, as a Thunder player has won seven of the last 11 Rookie of the Month awards. He joins Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey as Thunder players in recent history to nab a Rookie of the Month award.

Mark Daigneault and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were nominated for NBA monthly awards.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the thick of the MVP conversation: and has been nominated for the first Western Conference Player of the Month award. He lost out on the honor to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander average 30 points, five rebounds, and six assists per game while swiping 2.4 steals and swatting a shot per game. Gilgeous-Alexander has been the engine to the Thunder's offense and has helped spearhead their efforts in being a top five defense.

Nikola Jokic is just too hard to handle, going for 29 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists per tilt, nearly averaging a triple-double in the first month for the reigning Champs.

Mark Daigneault was nominated for the Western Conference Coach of the Month award but fell short, seeing the honor go to Minnesota Timberwolves bench boss Chris Finch.

For the OKC Thunder, they hope to build on a successful first month of the season. On Wednesday, the Thunder will battle with the Rockets in Houston, where Oklahoma City hopes to built on their fantastic road start (7-2).

For full coverage of that game, and all season long, check back in with Thunderous Intentions daily.