No team in 2025-26 has been as dominant as the Oklahoma City Thunder. Through their first 25 games, the team is a remarkable 24-1. OKC has won 16 consecutive games.Ā
They have not lost since Wednesday, November 5. With a 24-1 record through the first third of the season, the Thunder are on pace to have a historic year. Oklahoma City is on pace to beat the Warriors’ 73-9 record set in 2015-16. Former Thunder player turned ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins praised this year’s Thunder squad for making sacrifices. Perkins also called out four former teammates who were unwilling to make those same sacrifices for OKC.
Kendrick Perkins was not shy to call out his former Thunder teammates
“The biggest thing for me is the sacrificing part of it. You don’t see that in young squads. That was the problem with KD, Russ, James [Harden], Serge [Ibaka]. They weren’t willing to do what these guys are doing right now in today’s game.” š@KendrickPerkins on the Thunder’sā¦ pic.twitter.com/iyBgFrnqG7
ā NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 10, 2025
Before he joined ESPN as a full-time studio analyst in 2019-20, Kendrick Perkins played 14 seasons in the NBA. He was a first-round pick in the historic Class of 2003. That features players like LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade. Perkins played for four franchises over his career, winning a championship with Boston in 2008.
Additionally, Perkins was on the Thunder when they made a run to the Finals vs. the Miami Heat. Before OKC’s game on Thursday vs. the Suns, Kendrick Perkins praised the 2025-26 season. He emphasized the team’s willingness to make sacrifices. Not something you often see from young teams. In complimenting the current Thunder, he also called out former teammates.
“They’re going to repeat.”@KendrickPerkins sees the Thunder going back to back this season š pic.twitter.com/iPtjKhAkmg
ā NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 18, 2025
Kendrick Perkins named four players specifically. He mentioned Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James, Harden, and Serge Ibaka. Those were the core players of OKC’s roster when they made a run to the 2012 NBA Finals. That version of Oklahoma City failed to reach the NBA mountaintop and eventually split up. Kendrick Perkins said Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka were unwilling to make sacrifices.
The 2025-26 Thunder are the exact opposite of that. Their team plays as one, and they’re always connected on the court. OKC’s depth has proved to be vital over the last two seasons. If a player misses time due to injury, the Thunder have pieces off the bench. Perkins used Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins as an example. Jalen Williams missed time early in the year, and Mitchell and Wiggins stepped up. Now that Williams is back, Mitchell and Wiggins are making sacrifices by coming off the bench. It’s the little details that make the Thunder so great.
