Pair of OKC Thunder Players Ranked Among NBA's Top 12 Defenders

A popular NBA podcast ranked a pair of Oklahoma City players among the NBA's best defenders.

May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) reach for a rebound in the second quarter during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Oklahoma City Thunder have crafted an indentity on defense over the past few seasons.

OKC's talent on that end of the floor was the catalyst for the Thunder's 2025 NBA title run, helping Oklahoma City overcome struggles on offense during the postseason.

The Thunder have received recognition for the team's effort on defense, as players like Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace have each earned All-Defense honors in the past two seasons.

The Game Theory Podcast, hosted by Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon, has also recognized Oklahoma City's defense recently with its ranking of the NBA's top 25 defenders.

Five Thunder players earned spots on the list, as Jalen Williams checked in at No. 25, Isaiah Hartenstein earning the No. 20 spot and Cason Wallace slotted at No. 16. The podcast recently revealed its top 12 defenders, with two more OKC players finding places on the list.

Vecenie and Simon ranked veteran defender Alex Caruso at No. 12 entering his 10th season in the NBA and third with the Thunder.

In 2025-26, Caruso averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 steals per game across 56 appearances. While the 32-year-old doesn't showcase his full impact during the regular season, was an integral part of Oklahoma City's postseason push.

Caruso made multiple big defensive plays during each of the Thunder's last two playoff runs, including a stellar performance in the 2025 NBA Finals to help secure OKC its first championship.

A versatile wing defender who can also guard players like Nikola Jokic on the biggest stage, Caruso's impact on defense is essential for Oklahoma City's playoff aspirations.

The top Thunder player on Vecenie and Simon's list was Chet Holmgren, who checked in at No. 2, trailing only Victor Wembanyama.

Holmgren finished second in 2026 Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Wembanyama after averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. While Holmgren didn't come away with the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, the 24-year-old earned All-Defense, All-Star and All-NBA honors in 2025-26.

The former No. 2 overall pick is viewed as one of the best defenders in the world, but public perception of Holmgren has dipped following the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder big man didn't perform well throughout the series, and especially in Game 7, which has led to some observers souring on Holmgren.

Still, the OKC standout turned in a strong third season and even performed well in the playoffs prior to meeting San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals.