Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant was surprised by comments from current ESPN analyst and former teammate Kendrick Perkins regarding their shared tenure on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After Perkins referred to himself as the one leading the Thunder during an appearance on NBA Today, the Phoenix Suns star responded on social media.

"I know this may be a reach but this comment is by far the craziest s--t I've seen this week," Durant wrote.

I know this may be a reach but this comment is by far the craziest shit I’ve seen this week https://t.co/kNbncZhIUH

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 6, 2025

Durant and Perkins were teammates in Oklahoma City from the 2010-11 season through the middle of the 2014-15 season.

They've disagreed multiple times over the past few years, specifically regarding Durant's decision to join the Golden State Warriors as a free agent in 2016 after the Thunder lost to Golden State in the Western Conference Finals.

Yea and our starting center @KendrickPerkins averaged a whopping 2 and 3 during that series. U played hard tho champ lol

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 10, 2020

Boy stop you did the weakest move in NBA History!!! Up on a team 3-1 in the western conference finals and then go join them the following season?! Heart of Champion right there

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 10, 2020

Weak is starting at center, playing real minutes with no production. Should’ve worked on your skills as much as I did

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 10, 2020

That’s fine!!! You worked that hard and still had to go join a 73-9 team. Truth be told you don’t even feel like a real Champ, you have hard time sleeping at night huh knowing that you took the coward way out!!!

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 10, 2020

Perkins has continued to call out Durant's vocal leadership ability, specifically during a Feb. 2024 appearance on NBA Today as well as a Dec. 2023 appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

While Perkins may have viewed himself as the leader on Thunder teams that also included Russell Westbrook and James Harden, Durant clearly disagrees.

The 36-year-old is currently in the midst on another impressive individual season with the Suns, earning his 14th All-Star selection. In 39 starts, Durant has averaged 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 52.4/39.8/82.7 shooting splits.

His name was involved in trade rumors prior to Thursday's deadline, though. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that there were "multiple teams" making "really aggressive calls" to Phoenix regarding Durant.

He ultimately remained with the Suns following the deadline at 3 p.m. ET.

While Durant may have been skeptical of some of the trade buzz throughout the week, nothing surprised him more than Perkins' claim regarding his Oklahoma City tenure.

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren is on track to play Friday against the Toronto Raptors.

ESPN's Shams Charania noted the team has removed him from its injury report. Holmgren confirmed his return on social media:

Chet Holmgren with the hype video for his upcoming return against the Raptors:
pic.twitter.com/kSP2FGuDTY

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 6, 2025

The Thunder announced the young star suffered a right iliac wing fracture during the team's 127-116 home loss to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 10. The injury occurred after he took a hard fall after a block attempt during the first quarter.

The team said an update would be provided in 8-to-10 weeks and that he was expected to return before the end of the season.

On Jan. 17, the Thunder announced that Holmgren was progressing in the return-to-play protocol and would be "re-evaluated in approximately three to five weeks."

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault spoke more on the matter.

Mark Daigneault on Chet Holmgren: “He’s done a great job and the team does a great job with those guys… The team does a great job at keeping those guys in the mix. Chet does a great job staying in the mix. He’s working hard. He’s progressing. He’s really hit hard and also show…

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 18, 2025

Holmgren averaged 16.4 points (50.5 percent shooting), 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks over his first 10 games.

The year before, Holmgren was the runner-up to San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year after posting 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He also helped guide the Thunder to the Western Conference's No. 1 seed after a 57-win campaign.

The Thunder selected the ex-Gonzaga standout with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He missed the 2022-23 season with a Lisfranc injury suffered during the CrawsOver Pro-Am event event in August 2022.

Without Holmgren, the Thunder have turned to Isaiah Hartenstein at the starting 5 with Jaylin Williams as the backup, and they've managed to maintain the NBA's best record (40-9).

His return gives them a massive boost for the second half of the year.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are loaded with young talent, but that can get expensive for the front office down the line.

Especially if the leader of that young talent could be staring at an exorbitant supermax extension.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst reported on the Thunder's situation Friday, noting the team is on track for the luxury tax. They added. "that's before the following season, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be starting a supermax extension that would begin at a staggering $72 million if current projections hold."

With that as the backdrop, Bontemps and Windhorst suggested any trade that happens before Thursday's deadline involving OKC "would have to be made with an eye toward the future, as the salaries for this burgeoning young core start to get wildly more expensive."

This update comes after NBA insider Marc Stein reported earlier this month that Gilgeous-Alexander "is eligible for a four-year supermax extension this coming offseason worth nearly $300 million that would set him up for the first $80 million salary in NBA history in 2030-31."

The guard could also wait until the summer of 2026, when such an extension would be a five-year deal.

At this point, nearly any contract would be worth keeping him for the Thunder.

SGA is the franchise cornerstone who finished second in MVP voting last season and could be well on his way to his first career MVP this season. He leads the league in scoring at 32.5 points per game and is also averaging 6.0 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks a night while shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep.

He is a primary reason the Thunder sit atop the Western Conference standings at 37-9 and are eyeing their first championship since moving to Oklahoma City.

It's hard to put a price tag on that.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's second 50-point game of the season wasn't enough to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 116-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

After dropping 52 points, Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters he's "not satisfied" with the individual results when it comes in a loss.

"It sucks. Me personally, I play to win," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Winning comes first and foremost, and if I don't win, I am not satisfied. So maybe my 52 points tonight wasn't in the best interest of the team."

Gilgeous-Alexander set a career high with 54 points one week ago in a 123-114 win over the Utah Jazz.

The main issue on Wednesday night was Oklahoma City's usually-stout defense got picked apart by Golden State. Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II caused all sorts of problems.

Curry and Wiggins combined to make 10 of the Warriors' 13 three-pointers. Payton scored a season-high 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 25 minutes.

Losing is not something the Thunder are accustomed to this season, but they are 3-3 in their last six games. Two of those losses have come to the Dallas Mavericks, who eliminated them from the playoffs last season in the Western Conference semifinals.

Gilgeous-Alexander didn't play in the first game against the Mavs on Jan. 17. He is in the midst of arguably the hottest streak of his career.

In his last 17 games dating back to Dec. 23, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 34.9 points on 55.7 percent shooting with 5.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. He has scored at least 40 points six times during this span.

Even in the midst of what might be called a rough patch, at least by their standards, the Thunder are still comfortably in control of the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference with a 37-9 record. They are five games ahead of the Houston Rockets (32-14).

Despite the loss, Gilgeous-Alexander strengthened his MVP case with another 50-point outing. The three-time All-Star leads the league in scoring average (32.1 points per game) and is shooting 52.8 percent from the field.

The Thunder will look to get back on track when they open up a four-game homestand on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder's 127-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, clinching a 35-7 record, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has earned a coaching spot for one of the four teams in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

Daigneault will be the first Oklahoma City coach since Scott Brooks in 2013-14 to receive the honor, as the Thunder hold the best record in the Western Conference.

With tonight's victory, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has earned a spot to coach one of the four teams in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/lAh1Tpbqc9

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 20, 2025

In addition to Daigneault, an Oklahoma City assistant coach will also serve as an All-Star coach for one of the teams.

After the game, Daigneault told reporters that the opportunity is "an honor."

"Huge thank you to all the people that are behind the scenes on that, in the organization who work with the players not only this season but previous seasons. Obviously this has been a build and a lot of people have their fingerprints on that," Daigneault said. "So, a huge thank you to them and a huge thank you to the assistant coaching staff, many of which have been her for a long time and put in a lot of work."

"An honor."

Thunder HC Mark Daigneault talks being named one of the head coaches for #NBAAllStar 🌟 pic.twitter.com/ghYvbGM6Dn

— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2025

Daigneault won the 2023-24 Coach of the Year after turning around the Thunder, leading them to a 57-25 record after they finished 40-42 and 10th in the Western Conference during the 2022-23 season.

The Thunder have had a phenomenal year, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging a career-high 31.6 points per game, along with 5.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals this season.

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will introduce a new mini-tournament format, consisting of four teams and three games. Three of the teams will be composed of NBA All-Star selections, while the fourth team will be made up of the champion from the Castrol Rising Stars competition, held on Friday, Feb. 14.

The remaining two head coaching positions will be filled by the head coach and assistant coach duo with the best record in the Eastern Conference through Feb. 2, projected to be the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren will be reevaluated in three-to-five weeks amid a pelvic fracture injury suffered in November, the team announced Friday.

Holmgren is continuing to progress in his return to play protocol, ESPN's Shams Charania added.

Holmgren suffered a pelvic fracture on Nov. 10 during a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder said when announcing the injury that an update would be provided in eight to ten weeks, and that Holmgren was expected to return this season.

The injury, identified by the Thunder as a right iliac wing fracture, occurred after a hard fall following a midair collision with Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins.

Holmgren was averaging 18.2. points and 9.2 rebounds per game prior to the injury. At the time he had recorded 26 blocks in nine games, trailing only San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama for the league lead.

The No. 2 pick of the 2022 draft played all 82 games last season after sitting out the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign with a foot injury.

He returned in 2023-24 to finish as runner-up to Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while leading the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City will hope for Holmgren's return as soon as possible as the Thunder looks to lean on his defense while repeating as the top seed in the West next spring.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable on Thursday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a lopsided 134-114 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

What a game 😄 pic.twitter.com/LLyVU7thU5

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 17, 2025

He finished with a game-high 40 points in just 29 minutes on the floor, shooting 17-26 from the field and connecting on all five of his free-throw attempts. Gilgeous-Alexander also racked up eight assists, three rebounds and two steals.

SGA is COOKING the Cavs 😤👀

Had 26 PTS, 4 AST, 2 STL in the 1H pic.twitter.com/8xC7weVeik

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 17, 2025

Oklahoma City took an early 10-point lead in the first quarter and didn't look back, holding a 75-49 advantage at halftime.

Jalen Williams also wrapped up an efficient performance, scoring 19 points while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. He pulled down six rebounds and dished out five assists of his own.

75 PTS IN THE FIRST HALF!!

Jalen Williams sends OKC to the break with their 11th 3PM in the first 24 minutes 🎯 pic.twitter.com/5ZFXlxFBxb

— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2025

Thursday's result was a statement victory for the Thunder, as they previously suffered a narrow 129-122 loss to the Cavaliers on Jan. 8.

Fans were amazed by Gilgeous-Alexander's heroics, calling for him to earn even more MVP consideration.

SGA COOKED the Cavs and it only took 3 quarters 😳

40 PTS
8 AST
2 STL
Thunder win 134-114

MVP? 🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/rIUuraMJ1X

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 17, 2025

The Thunder don't have either big - Chet or Hartenstein - yet against the Mobley-Allen Cavs THEY'RE UP 75-49 AT HALF! OKC IS GOING TO WIN THE WEST. SGA MVP.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 17, 2025

SGA just outscored the Cavs in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/TXwbHPpLme

— Real Sports (@realapp_) January 17, 2025

Look man, Jokic is incredible but this year’s MVP is pretty easily SGA.

— 𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙖 (@arkaavs) January 17, 2025

Shai is the MVP right now and it's not very close.

He is on pace to play every game for a 70-win team without their second-best player, while he averages 31.5/5.5/6 on 64% TS with 3.1 stocks and they're 15.5 pts per 100 better with him.

One of the best guard seasons ever.

— Carson Breber (@Carsobi) January 17, 2025

Shai could’ve had 50 twice in the past week had he not sat out the whole 4th quarter in both games.

— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) January 17, 2025

Shai is one of a kind man. I get Mamba flashbacks I can’t lie. Middy game nasty.

— PeeWeeDaPlug (@PeeWeeDaPlug) January 17, 2025

I mean…

SGA.

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 17, 2025

For the Cavaliers, Darius Garland led the way with 20 points and nine assists.

Donovan Mitchell struggled offensively, hitting just three of his 15 field-goal attempts and scoring eight points.

Cleveland dealt with ball security issues against the NBA's top-rated defense, committing 21 turnovers despite racking up 32 assists.

Following Thursday's clash, the Thunder and Cavaliers now own identical 34-6 records.

The Philadelphia 76ers were without Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond and Kyle Lowry for Tuesday night's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder (and also rookie standout Jared McCain, who is out for the season with a lateral meniscus tear).

The team's starting lineup—consisting of Reggie Jackson, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr, Ricky Council IV and Guerschon Yabusele—combined to average 38.6 points per game this season coming into the night. Council and Jackson were each making their first starts of the 2024-25 campaign. Pete Nance, signed to another two-way deal earlier on Tuesday, was making just his second appearance of the season.

So yes, the Thunder—currently the top team in the Western Conference by a comfortable margin—won easily on Tuesday, blowing out the depleted Sixers, 118-102.

Steal & lay to start the 2nd half...

9/9 from the field.

Shai is LOCKED IN. 🔒 https://t.co/yWt9hoQSti pic.twitter.com/LQstOqqdAl

— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2025

And no, MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't receive much resistance, finishing the contest with 32 points, nine assists and two steals. It was an incredibly efficient performance, as he shot 12-of-15 from the field.

So while those numbers came against what is essentially the Sixers' reserve unit, NBA fans were still impressed by the showing:

Shai really ole reliable pic.twitter.com/6DvhU66mdR

— Malcom (@Rod_Winning) January 15, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has his 23rd 30 point game of the season.

SGA is #1 in the NBA in 30 point games. Giannis is #2 with 20.

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) January 15, 2025

Man give shai the MVP already

— Paul Byrd (@P_Frank_00) January 15, 2025

Shai so good man

— basketball enjoyer (@moneysnipershai) January 15, 2025

Yea Shai clearly da mvp lmao

— Raqi 🇵🇸 (@ih8raqi) January 15, 2025

you just can’t guard shai

— mr. smoooth ✞ (@Zidanie_) January 15, 2025

shai is the MVP idc

— karank._ (@officialKaranK) January 15, 2025

https://twitter.com/HowellToMetcalf/status/1879350276123242670

The Thunder (33-6) may have been favored even if the Sixers (15-23) were at full health, and Shai's performance has become something of the norm for the superstar guard.

In that regard, the biggest storyline from the game may have actually been the performance of Philly's Justin Edwards (25 points, six rebounds) and Jeff Dowtin Jr. (18 points, five rebounds), a pair of players who non-Philly fans definitely knew were in the NBA.

To put Edwards' performance into further perspective, the rookie came into the night with 31 total points in his career.

None of that is much consolation for the Sixers during yet another loss in what has been an extremely disappointing, injury-ravaged season. But it at least made an otherwise throwaway game against a superior opponent mildly entertaining, and that's something.

NBA fans might have gotten an early look at this year's Finals on Wednesday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-122 in one of the most exciting games of the season thus far. Heading into the contest, there had never been a team on a 15-game win streak face off against a team on a 10-game winning run. Ultimately, it was Cleveland that kept its sequence going as it made it 11 in a row.

The game was highlighted by a plethora of lead changes, but Cleveland had the edge heading down the stretch. But the Thunder got right back into the game, cutting the Cavs' lead to just two points with a minute and a half to play.

Cleveland, feeding off a rowdy home crowd, held strong on defense, though, while also getting the shots it needed on the offensive end to escape with the win.

It was a slow night for Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, who had just 11 points, but Cleveland's frontcourt stepped up as Jarrett Allen had 25 points, 12 boards and six assists while Evan Mobley had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a big night with 31 points, but it wasn't enough to carry his team past the Cavs.

https://twitter.com/GB_Delayed_Draw/status/1877170431653794119

That’s right.

26 lead changes. pic.twitter.com/6UpzqGO77k

— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 9, 2025

This is real ball right now. Cavs Thunder is cooking.

— Terence Fluellen (@FLU_2Cold) January 9, 2025

Cavs/Thunder game is everything I expected it to be

— 🥒Rick (@GrimReapGodSon) January 9, 2025

Cavs v Thunder 🔥

— fRaNkiE_jR. (@kofi_shinto) January 9, 2025

I wouldn’t even be mad at a Cavs-Thunder Finals

— . (@Wallabeees) January 9, 2025

28 lead changes and 7 ties in the Cavs vs Thunder game. These are the two best teams in the association currently

— Jahmeir D. ✭ (@JDCowboys2) January 9, 2025

Have the Cavs and Thunder been more than like 8 points apart this entire game? This game rocks.

— Henry Ettinger (@hedging_henry) January 9, 2025

Cavs Thunder rn is real hoops

— Irrelevant Legend (@juckshot_4) January 9, 2025

Cavs-Thunder is probably better than any NFL regular season game this year

— Shlomo Sprung (@SprungOnSports) January 9, 2025

This Thunder-Cavs game is BOX OFFICE. Looks like a Finals preview.

— Josh Rosen (@Joshimpressions) January 9, 2025

The Cavaliers now hold the best record in the NBA at 31-4 and have all the makings of a Finals team. While the Thunder dropped to 30-5 with the loss, they're still in the driver's seat in the Western Conference.

Cleveland and Oklahoma City will meet again in just over a week, and the second contest should be just as enthralling as the first.

Two-time NBA All-Defensive Team guard Alex Caruso has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday.

Caruso is among NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, ranking in top five in deflections, field-goal % allowed as contesting defender and points per direct pick allowed as ball-handler defender, per ESPN Research.

Deal keeps Caruso out of free agency, under contract through 2028-29. https://t.co/Ve6bCa5ZOs

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2024

Some more notes on the Caruso extension:

1. The contract was not allowed to start higher than $18.1M and descend.

2. Caruso becomes the 22nd player to sign an extension since July 1. 16 of those players could have been free agents.

3. 2025 1's as of today: 7 (via PHI), 17 (via… pic.twitter.com/Va5sjWvN2L

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 23, 2024

Caruso told The Stein Line's Jake Fischer in late December that he believed Oklahoma City "was a good fit" for him.

"Obviously this is a place that I think is ascending and that's something I want to be a part of," Caruso told Fischer.

The extension means he is now set to be a part of the Thunder's playoff hopes for the foreseeable future.

Caruso was previously set to become a free agent in 2025 following the expiration of the four-year contract, worth just under $37 million, that he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2021.

The Thunder acquired Caruso in a June trade with the Bulls in exchange for guard Josh Giddey.

Caruso became a regular part of the Bulls starting rotation for the latter part of his 2023-24 campaign in Chicago. The veteran guard averaged a career-high 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while pacing the NBA with 3.7 deflections per night in the best offensive campaign of his career.

Those numbers have dipped following Caruso's transition back to a bench role in Oklahoma City. He has also missed time due to a hip injury which sidelined him for eight games in late November.

When healthy, Caruso has come off the bench to average 5.7 points, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.6 blocks through 19 games.

The extension shows the Thunder's faith that Caruso will continue adjusting to his new team and return to being a dominant force on defense.

Since ending the 2023-24 season with a disappointing second-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Thunder spent the summer improving their defense with the additions of Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Hartenstein joined the Thunder on a three-year, $87 million deal in free agency this July. With both Hartenstein and Caruso locked in for the near future, Oklahoma City will hope this defensively-minded duo can help put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder on track for the franchise's first championship since 1979.