OKC is in position to join the historic club of Michael Jordan’s 96-97 Bulls

The The Oklahoma City Thunder are chasing history early on their title defense. Fresh off a 68-14 record and their first championship since moving to OKC, the Thunder are in position to chase a feat accomplished by only two franchises.

ESPN Insights pointed out the turning point on X, noting that Oklahoma City is chasing a spot with the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls as the only franchises to post back-to-back 65-win seasons. Golden State accomplished the feat from 2014-15 to 2016-17, while Chicago did it in 1995-96 and 1996-97 during the Michael Jordan dynasty.

That historic benchmark appears within reach as the defending champions open their season Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets. The core that dominated last year remains largely intact, led Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwho returns as the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP after leading Oklahoma City past the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game Finals series. His Game 7 performance sealed a 103-91 victory that delivered the franchise’s first title in the OKC era.

Can the Thunder pull it off?

The roster returns several key pieces, including Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Lugenz Dort, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. That continuity under coach Marc Daigneault gives the Thunder a shot at hitting the all-time mark, especially with a light schedule featuring just 13 consecutive sets.

Their defensive identity remains the foundation. Oklahoma City finished first defensive rating last season at 107.5 while ranking third in offense, a rare two-way balance that made their playoff run possible. With a minimum number of revolutions and an NBA record margin from a plus-12.9 ppg from last season, the blueprint for another dominant campaign appears to be in place.

Sportsbooks agree. Oklahoma City enters as betting favourite with a plus-200 chance to repeat as champions, the shortest preseason number since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.

Thunder will open without Jalen Williams as he recovers from offseason wrist surgeryalthough he is not expected to miss extended time. Williams played through a torn ligament throughout the championship series before undergoing the procedure in July.

With opening night, the Thunder have 82 games to cement their place in one of basketball’s most exclusive clubs.