OKC Thunder - "Changing Basketball" like Moneyball

[TomasM]

I don't expect many people in this forum to have a fond appreciate of athletics but I wanted to highlight something I have been witnessing in basketball recently. Basketball is a form of human art and entertainment that influences and motivates people by demonstrating commitment, dedication, intelligent strategy and work ethic. What is currently happening in Oklahoma City is truly phenomenal. In this thread, I wanted to highlight the similarities between the OKC Thunder and what occurred with the Oakland A's depicted by Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in the movie Moneyball.

Here's a excerpt from the movie for reference. After viewing it, you will find the comparisons between the teams and then a brief explanation for my interest.

Market Comparison:

• Oklahoma City Thunder: OKC represents one of the NBA’s smallest markets with limited revenue streams and population compared to powerhouses like the New York Knicks or Boston Celtics, which benefit from massive fan bases, corporate sponsorships, and media attention.
• Oakland A's: The A’s faced similar challenges in MLB, competing with the deep-pocketed New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, who dominate the league with massive payrolls and extensive resources.

The Strategy:
To level the playing field, both teams relied on innovative strategies. The A’s used advanced analytics (Moneyball) to find undervalued players, while OKC has leaned on stockpiling draft picks and nurturing young talent. This approach maximizes efficiency and minimizes reliance on expensive stars, offering a blueprint for smaller franchises to stay competitive.

In essence, these small-market teams have had to "out-think" rather than "out-spend" their big-market rivals like New York and Boston to find success.

The OKC Thunder currently has the youngest roster in the NBA. Last year they won the Western Conference regular season and this year they are being touted as the team to challenge the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

My Interest: I was born and raised in a small Oklahoma town. My father and Brad Pitt's father went to the same High School and participated in athletics on the varsity teams together. Brad was also born in that same town. It was not uncommon for him to come to town with his SO to visit with grandparents during the holidays. Naturally, I developed an interest in his career and was especially fond of the movie Moneyball. Though the movie depicted a team in Oakland, we are now seeing a similar change in Oklahoma. The OKC Thunder was brought to Oklahoma from Seattle and Aubrey McClendon (CEO of Chesapeake Energy at the time) played a pivotal role in acquiring the team. I worked for Chesapeake Energy and had the opportunity to be involved in the transformation of the US energy sector. This company was eventually dismantled by a corporate raider by the name of Carl Icahan a Wall Street corporate raider. I believe the success of the Thunder is tied to the people of Oklahoma because it symbolizes the constant need to overcome big financial oppression (greed) at the expense of a people since the state was established. Aubrey McClendon fought hard for his employees but eventually lost the company he created and his life (speculatively speaking).

 

[TomasM]

Here is the General Manager for OKC that has made it all happen. Sam Presti, is the new Billy Beane (Brad Pitt depicted) for a small market team. This time it's basketball instead of baseball.


When he became a GM for the first time [in Oklahoma City], he assembled three players that each went on to be league MVP's: Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook, and James Harden. That is unheard of in professional athletics.

He then got them to the NBA Finals and just fell short of a championship. Because he didn't win, the cost of those great players began to rise and eventually it became impossible to keep the team together in a small market. Shortly after, he began a rebuild and did it at a record pace - 2 years.

Last year the Thunder won the Western Conference regular season, but nobody expected them to win the championship because their players were so young (currently the youngest roster in the league) and they lacked postseason experience. Though they performed well, they fell short. In the offseason, they made a couple roster trades and are now considered by many to be the favorite to win the title.

The team will have a bigger window at success this time around because of the way newly drafted player salaries are structured. If they win the title then they will have changed basketball from a high paying financial structure [for a limited number of players] to one where more players are valued and rewarded.

If he wins a championship this year, he could very easily have a dynasty, just like Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan. The team is currently first in the western conference (considered the strongest) and has the highest point differential of any team in the league (a big indicator for winning a championship).

Here's a clip of what is being discussed [about Sam] by top sports media in a big market. This was a discussion during last season. They know the potential ramifications if he succeeds.

At a time when big money is starting to control everything globally and the people are feeling completely helpless at times, a spirit of overcoming adversity is especially needed. I believe this is why so many people outside of Oklahoma are starting to love this team. They are truly exciting to watch, because they genuinely care about each other and reward every play at the moment it happens.

 

[TomasM]

Most people haven't seen this and I prefer for it to stay quiet but I wanted our small group here to see something that I've seen developing. The player in the video is named Jalen Williams (AKA J-Dub) and he is calling his shot in the same way that Babe Ruth called his shot in the 1932 World Series. For those of you don't know much about Babe Ruth, he called a homerun in the World Series when he came up to bat and then did exactly as he said.

This team is special. It has been built with a new strategy that defies everything required (including low budgets of money) to build a championship team. They play like a family and every player is included in everything. They fight hard for each other and they are successful because they do things unselfishly, in every way, to help the person standing next to them have the glory and praise in a given moment. The fans see this and it makes them love the team and I've even seen fans, podcasters, and big media giving them attention for how impressive their approach has been towards success.

40-3, look it up. "Watch the games."

Shhhhh.....

 

[TomasM]

The season is nearing its end and the Thunder have dominated. First it defense and top 3 in offense. Their average margin of victory has surpassed every team in the history of basketball - currently at 13 points per game. They did it with one of their best players out for 4 months from a broken pelvis - he has now returned and is performing wonderfully. This team is the youngest in the league by average age and you can truly tell in how they engage with one another and those around them. They even interview together post game, which is unheard of, and the interviewers love it. Here’s an example.

They won their division. They won their conference. They won every game against the opposing conference (except one against the best team in that conference on their home court) and that’s 29 of 30 games - that’s unheard of. Their best player is the front runner for league MVP. They are changing basketball.

Their playoffs are coming and the intensity will start to increase. “Thunder Up!”

 

[TomasM]

A player from the Thunder requested a transfer out at the end of last season. He had been a starter and was told he was no longer be starting the next season. Everyone (players and fans) liked him and we were sad to see the departure, but we all knew he wasn’t the right fit for the Thunder’s style of basketball. His name is Josh Giddy.

He was traded to the Chicago Bulls and is in a starting roll for their team. The other night I caught the tail end of a game between the Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers (LeBron James & Luka Doncic). The Bulls were down 18 late in the 4th qtr, they mounted a comeback and then Josh did something INCREDIBLE In the last 12 seconds. Rather than spoil it, I’ll just show you.

Foreshadow: bullseye from the bulls eye (literally)

I’ve never felt that much energy from an NBA crowd and I’ve been at home games with last second wining shots - it’s like a bomb going off and you can’t hear your own war-cry.

I’m so happy for Josh. That was a historic moment.

 

[Wyote]

I’m so happy for Josh. That was a historic moment.

I thought of this thread when I saw this happen, so nuts!
The Lakers are beatable

 

[TomasM]

I thought of this thread when I saw this happen, so nuts!
The Lakers are beatable

The Thunder beat them earlier in the season in Los Angeles. We have a double header with them in OKC in about a week. Ya never know if the really good teams will play hard down the stretch when they can rest instead of risking injury before the playoffs. The Thunder could try and win those last games and finish in the top 3 season records of all time. Similarly, the Lakers could sit players, so it’s tough to tell how those matchups will unfold. Only 9 games left this season.

 

[TomasM]

THE STREAK
Comparing the streaks between the historic performances of the Oakland A’s and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 20-game win streak by the 2002 Oakland A’s was a seismic shock in the landscape of baseball—a sport defined by its volatility, its grueling 162-game schedule, and the sheer improbability of sustained dominance. That streak wasn’t just a statistical anomaly; it was a philosophical rupture. Built on analytics rather than payroll, the A’s proved that methodical precision could overpower star-studded chaos. Each win was a rejection of baseball orthodoxy, a defiant middle finger to tradition, and a nod to the cold logic of sabermetrics. The magnitude of that run was historic, not just because of the number, but because of how it was done—by a team that wasn’t supposed to dominate.

Now, contrast that with the OKC Thunder potentially finishing the 2025 NBA season with a 13-point average margin of victory—a number that would rank among the most dominant statistical feats in basketball history. In a league where superstars shape legacies and parity is supposedly enforced by a salary cap, this Thunder team threatens to break the mold. A 13-point differential isn’t just winning—it’s annihilation. It signals a team that controls tempo, space, and rhythm with surgical brutality. But more than dominance, it represents a tactical evolution: the possibility that team-centric schemes, versatile wings, and data-driven decision-making are overtaking the traditional hero-ball model. If this continues, it won’t just rewrite the standings—it could force a philosophical reformation of how basketball is played, coached, and built. The A’s changed how teams think. The Thunder might change how the entire sport functions.

Here’s a clip about the Oakland A’s streak from the movie. It’s a great movie and worthy of a watch.

 

[TomasM]

The Thunder now have the NBA's best record against an opposing conference [all time] at 29-1. The only loss was to the Cleveland Cavaliers on their home court, who are the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference, and the second best record in the NBA. Every team plays the opposing conference twice in a regular season on both home and away courts.

The Thunder have also won their division and their conference by a large margin of wins.

 

[TomasM]

Should the OKC Thunder push to win 70 games?​

Only two teams have won 70 games in an NBA season over the last 58 years (82 game season).

Chicago Bulls (1995-96) under Michael Jordan (72 wins)
Golden State Warriors (2015-16) under Steph Curry (73 wins)

The Thunder currently have 64 wins. We will see if they choose to hit the 70 win mark or rest players for the playoffs.

 

[TomasM]

How the OKC Thunder Weaponized Draft Picks​

The genius of Sam Presti is his ability to transform a small market team, by exploiting big market teams that want to purchase highly marketable superstar players, while having an eye for talent and the ability to develop that talent within the teams structure.

The larger markets love to buy the fruits of his labor, which is great, but Presti wants to change the game by demonstrating that he can still win a championship even with smaller budgets. The reason large market teams can win through purchasing players is because they can afford to pay the salaries of other teams through what is called a luxury tax. Essentially, this is a loophole in the salary cap that favors large market teams and it is done by the NBA because media outlets want the ability to increase viewership by attracting more fans through broadcast rights. Sadly, in this regard, the NBA has created an unfair game in which small market teams can only compete during a smaller window of opportunity. Presti has found a way to overcome this obstacle, and this is the reason he is fundamentally changing the team framework and business of basketball.