The OKC Thunder are off to a blazing start and are sitting as the favorites on most sportsbooks to repeat as NBA champions. They marked their superiority with a 131-94 lopsided win against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, and with it, the Thunder became the only third team ever to start consecutive seasons with a 30-5 record.
Which was the last team to start so hot? The very team that OKC dismantled Friday – the Warriors. Golden State, however, accomplished the feat in three consecutive seasons between 2014 to 2017. The Thunder will have their eyes set on bettering the record next season.
Teams to start 30-5 or better in consecutive seasons:
2025-26 Thunder
2024-25 Thunder (champions)2016-17 Warriors (champions)
2015-16 Warriors (lost Finals)
2014-15 Warriors (champions)1996-97 Bulls (champions)
1995-96 Bulls (champions) pic.twitter.com/cxNkOWahG6— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 3, 2026
The first team to ever accomplish the feat was the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s in 1995-96 and 1996-97. They ended up winning the title on both occasions.
Barring the Warriors’ collapse in the NBA Finals in 2016 after holding a 3-1 lead, they won the title on the other two occasions. With OKC already being the defending champions, it will look to follow Chicago’s path and win two straight.
Golden State Warriors Were Missing Key Players in Loss to OKC Thunder
The Warriors suffered a lopsided loss but it can take solace in the fact that they played without their star players in Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. While Curry (ankle) and Butler (illness) were dealing with injuries, Green was rested keeping in mind the team’s back-to-back schedule.
Golden State is slated to play the Utah Jazz on Saturday. While Warriors coach Steve Kerr expects his starters to return, more information on their status should be available prior to tipoff.
With their star players out, the Warriors failed to put up any kind of fight against the defending champions. Will Richard and Moses Moody led the starters with 13 points each. Al Horford put up the same number from the bench.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to shine for the OKC Thunder, as he put up 30 points alongside seven assists. Chet Holmgren chipped in with 15 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.
It is important to mention here that even Curry and Butler’s presence might not have helped the Warriors. In a Nov. 11 meeting, when the Warriors were at full strength, they still lost 126-102, showcasing the huge gap that exists between the talent pool of the two teams right now.
Also Read:
Steve Kerr Accepts Brutal Reality Of Warriors’ Decline Against Wembanyama And OKC
Days After Draymond Green’s Attack on Suns Guard, Jimmy Butler Drops Same Insult for Nets Rookie
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