Leading the NBA in Steals and Blocks Within Reach For the OKC Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder has one of the NBA’s best defenses, thanks to its versatility.
Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Oklahoma City has been the best team in the league at forcing turnovers. Many of those have been live ball turnovers, which have helped the team be near the top of the league in steals.
Through 25 games this season, the Thunder sits third in steals per game at 8.6 and first in opponent turnovers at 16.8. Leading the Thunder to those marks is the NBA’s leader in steals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
At 2.8 per game, the star guard has the lead by a full steal, beating Donovan Mitchell’s second-place ranking of 1.8. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder both finished fourth in that category last season, as this season is a continuation of that defensive effort.
But Oklahoma City has an opportunity to lead the league in steals and blocks this season. That feat was achieved most recently by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2021-22 when they won 56 games and finished second in the West.
Last season, the Thunder was nowhere near the NBA’s high in blocks, finishing No. 22 at just 4.2 per contest. This season, rookie center Chet Holmgren is averaging 2.8 himself.
Currently second in blocks per game, 2023-24 could be the first time the Thunder have led the league in blocks since 2012-13, which was their third time doing so in four seasons. Much like Holmgren is leading the Thunder toward that spot now, Serge Ibaka was that guy a decade ago.
Ibaka led the league in total blocks four times and made three All-Defensive first teams in Oklahoma City. Some of Holmgren’s recent high-block performances are reminiscent of Ibaka’s performances in a Thunder jersey.
Holmgren has recorded four games with at least six blocks, including his two most recent outings against the Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets. Coming into this season, Thunder players had reached that mark only four times total since the team traded Ibaka to Orlando in 2016.
With players capable of putting up big blocks and steals totals, the Thunder is set up to make a run at leading the league in both categories as a team.
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