Mark Daigneault Tabbed As Coach of Month, OKC Thunder Players Nominated

The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off a great month of March. They saw Mark Daigneault tabbed as the Western Conference coach of the year as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren were nominated for awards.

Mar 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watches his team play against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

March has came and went, the Oklahoma City Thunder still sit atop the NBA.

The Thunder have logged 60 wins before playing a game in April, their second straight season reaching that mark and just the third time in franchise history to hit this win total. That shows just how impressive it is to rattle off 60-plus wins. Since 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the most talent-rich franchises in basketball. Still, they only account for three such seasons, two of them on the back of this current core led by superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

During the month of March, Oklahoma City recorded the best record in the NBA (14-1; .933). The Thunder posted a 9.9 net rating this month after registering a league-best 105.9 defensive rating. 

This success has led the Thunder to the top seed in the NBA and, of course, the Western Conference. The Bricktown Ballers cling to a two-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs, who hold the No. 2 spot in the West. If Oklahoma City can stave off the Spurs, this would mark their third straight No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. A historical feat in its own right.

This has led OKC Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault to take home the March Coach of the Month award for the Western Conference. This is the second time this season that Daigneault has grabbed the honor and the fifth time in his career to be named the Western Conference Coach of the Month. This alongside his Coach of the Year honor in 2023-24 and an NBA title a year ago already has an impressive mantle for one of the league's youngest head men.

As the NBA season comes to a close, the Oklahoma City Thunder has only six games remaining with a two-game lead on the Spurs. Though San Antonio does have the tiebreaker over Oklahoma City. The Thunder's month of April begins with a top-billing showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Paycom Center on Thursday night. The Thunder put their ten-game home winning streak on the line against the surging Purple and Gold.

The league also announced their Player of the Month and Defensive Player of the Month honors on Thursday afternoon. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was nominated for the Western Conference Player of the Month Award as Lakers superstar Luka Doncic won the award. Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren was nominated for the Defensive Player of the Month honor as Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama took home the hardware.