Why the Warriors are the Thunder’s biggest threat in the Western Conference

ByNBAUSA



In the past two seasons, they have dominated the Western Conference Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets, who feature a young, dynamic powerhouse built around the MVP-level brilliance of Shai Giljid-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Still, while OKC looks like the favorite to defend its crown after a perfect 6-0 start, the old contender has quietly emerged with a renewed identity. The The Golden State Warriors, once known for their great offensenow they are stifling teams with the best defense in basketball.

Built around discipline, depth and defensive intensity, this new version of Golden State is unlike anything else Steve Kerr trained before. After a convincing 98-79 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and a 4-1 start to the 2025-26 season, the Warriors have established themselves not only as a playoff contender, but as the Thunder’s most serious challenger to the throne.

Inside the Golden State Warriors’ defensive renaissance

It’s almost ironic to call the Golden State Warriors a defensive team. For nearly a decade, they’ve been the NBA’s gold standard for offensive brilliance, Steph Curry’s shooting, Draymond Greenorchestration and style that redefined modern basketball. But as the core ages and the league adjusts, Golden State has evolved. They are no longer trying to escape from everyone; they try to outlive everyone.

The transformation began at the end of last season after the acquisition Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline. While the move drew mixed reactions at the time, it completely recalibrated the Warriors’ identity. From that point, Golden State completed the final 28 games of the 2024-25 regular season ranked first in defensive ratinga trend that carried over into the new campaign.

Butler’s presence had a lasting impact Kerr rotation is required. He brings grit, accountability and the kind of defensive IQ that elevates everyone around him.

But it’s not just Butler. Jonathan CummingaHis athleticism and length made him one of the league’s most devastating hitters. Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody have embraced their role as energy defenders who seamlessly switch positions. Together, this collective commitment to defense gives Golden State something it lacked last year, a reliable identity when the shots aren’t falling.

And when do they fall? This team is becoming almost impossible to beat.

The Warriors’ return of depth and discipline

Depth is the lifeblood of the Warriors’ resurgence. During their championship years, Golden State thrived not just on star power but on system continuity, a bench that could defend, pass and keep rhythm alive when Curry and Green sat. That rhythm disappeared last year due to injuries and inconsistency, but the 2025-26 roster feels balanced again.

The rotation is deep with a variety of defenders and ball movers. Podziemski’s trust and judicial vision make him a connector in lineups with Curry. Cuminga’s evolution from raw athlete to two-way force has been one of the biggest stories of the Warriors’ early season. The emergence of Moses Moody as a reliable wing has filled the hole left by Klay Thompson.

Then there’s Draymond Green, the heartbeat of this new era. He is still barking, orchestrating, teaching. His partnership with Butler has created one of the most feared defensive pairings in the league, two veterans who anticipate playing two passes ahead and know how to weaponize chaos.

Even in the few losses Golden State has suffered, such as theirs heavy away losses in Milwaukee and Portland, there was no sense of panic. Kerr’s system was built on trust, and this team has re-established it. The Warriors aren’t trying to rediscover the magic in 2016; they are building something new.

Why the Thunder should be worried

Thunder, of course, remains the measuring stick. At 6-0, they were as dominant as ever, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 34.2 points per game and an improving supporting cast. The absence of Jaylen Williams hasn’t slowed them down, and the emergence of rookie point guard Ajay Mitchell as a reliable scorer and secondary playmaker has made the defending champions even more balanced.

But here’s why the Warriors are uniquely built to challenge them: experience, composure and defense.

Oklahoma City’s speed and youth overwhelm most teams, but Golden State is one of the few that won’t be upset. The Warriors’ switch defense can neutralize OKC’s spacing and force them into uncomfortable mid-range looks. Butler and Green give Kerr a pair of veterans who can disrupt Gilgeous-Alexander physically and mentally, while Cummings’ length is perfectly suited to chase wings like Williams or Chet Holmgren around screens.

Furthermore, the Thunder have never faced a team that so closely mirrors their unselfishness. Golden State’s ball movement, when sharp, is still among the best in the league. Curry’s gravity creates the same type of defensive collapse that Gilgeous-Alexander causes with his drives, and that constant movement can wear down even an elite defense.

There is also an emotional factor. The Warriors have something to prove. A dynasty tag doesn’t hold weight forever, and after two disappointing playoff exits, this group seems intent on showing it can evolve instead of disappear. Kerr’s adaptation to a defense-first system mirrors what Gregg Popovich once did in San Antonio: turn a team defined by one era into something viable for another.

The Thunder, for all their brilliance, have yet to be tested with this kind of maturity. When the postseason rolls around and every possession becomes a chess match, experience can close the gap between talent and youth.

Golden State isn’t just gunning for the Thunder; they position themselves to expose any team that underestimates their defensive rebounding.

Can the Warriors do it?

The Western Conference is still up for grabs for Oklahoma City, but the road to another final won’t be clear. The Warriors, battle-tested and defensively elite, reclaimed their identity at the perfect moment. They may no longer be the greatest team in basketball, but they are once again the smartest and perhaps the most dangerous.

Golden State isn’t chasing nostalgia. They are chasing the second flag.





2025-11-01 05:36:00

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