Shai Gilgeous-Alexander credits deep bench for hot start to 2025-26 season.

Oklahoma. and home – Oklahoma City Thunderis the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderknows his team’s historic start to the 2025-26 regular season is a testament to a deep roster dealing with several injuries. Still, he perseveres. From one victory to another, The Thunder’s 12-1 record as the defending champions reflects the depth. Without two starters, including All-Star Jalen Williams, who has yet to play in a game, Oklahoma City won back-to-back.

The Thunder’s 29-point victory (121-92) against the Los Angeles Lakers followed a 126-102 drought by the Golden State Warriors. After Wednesday’s win, Gilgeus-Alexander talked about how the Thunder are doing succeeds despite injuries in his starting lineup this season.

“We’re super deep as a group on both ends of the floor, and that’s what’s allowed us to get off to the start we’ve had,” Gilgeus-Alexander said. “We’ve dealt with injuries. We haven’t been healthy — not once, yet. But we’ve got guys that are ready to go, guys that understand their role, guys that understand how to impact the game at a high level. And how they can do that, and go out there and do it every night, and that’s why we haven’t missed a beat.”

Thunder forward Kenrich Williams also missed the entire season. He is recovering from offseason surgery on his left knee. Lou Dort missed six of Oklahoma City’s 13 games with a lingering back injury as Ajay Mitchell appeared on both ends of the floor alongside Shai Giljus-Alexander in Thunder head coach Mark Deino’s lineup.

Wins of 19+ points — six of 12 — are also on the rise for the Thunder, often leading to Daigneault emptying his early in the fourth quarter.

“It definitely saves my legs a little bit,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Whatever the game calls for, you adapt to it, but it’s definitely nice to save your legs, rest a bit, for sure.”

Williams announced that he is still playing basketball during his recovery during Gilgeous-Alexander’s exit interview as he approaches his regular-season debut.

Mark Daigneault on Thunder’s deep roster amid 12-1 start

Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault praised his team’s strength, especially against the Grizzlies, as they wrapped up their recent four-game road trip before winning back-to-back at the Pike Center.

“Our depth has been on display these last few games,” Daigneault said. “Even the second quarter in Memphis was big for us, we cut that lead when we got down early. We came in with that second unit late, and they did a great job of starting the second. And then, we come back with a cycle of guys from the first quarter, and they can handle it.”

“We want to be as close to a 48-minute team as possible. When you have a bunch of guys who step up when their numbers are called, that helps.”

The Thunder will have the next two days off before facing the Hornets on Saturday.