NBA analyst Bill Simmons has never been shy with bold takes, and his latest prediction might be his most ambitious yet. On The Ringer podcast, Simmons claimed he would be shocked if the Oklahoma City Thunder lost even 10 games this season, and went as far as calling a 74-win campaign a great bet.
Bill Simmons Has Bold Claim About the OKC Thunder
The Thunder are off to a blistering 23-1 start and performing like defending champions on a mission. So the idea no longer sounds as outrageous as it once might have.
During his podcast segment, Simmons marveled at OKC’s dominance, saying each rare loss feels like an event because of how overwhelming and deep the roster looks. He emphasized that if the Thunder reach a late-season position like 64-8, the pursuit of history would become impossible to ignore:
“I honestly would be shocked if they lost 10 games. I don’t see how it happens. Right now they are 23-1. Every time they lose, it feels like an event, they are so good, they are so deep, I know there will be some schedule stuff coming up later. They won 15 straight, I just don’t understand how they would lose ten games and here’s the thing about 74.
“And this is why I think it’s a great bet. If they are a little close to it, right, if they are like 64-8 or something…they are gonna do the thing where like, yeah we don’t care about that. At some point, you do for the record.”
The Thunder already own a commanding start that mirrors championship poise. After surviving two early-season overtime scares, they haven’t let up since.
Their lone loss came against the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 5, a tight 121–119 finish that barely blemishes an otherwise perfect run.
Now riding a 15-game winning streak, the 2025 NBA champions are looking every bit like a team ready to chase history. Whether it’s the Lakers’ 33-game win streak from 1972 or the Warriors’ legendary 73-9 mark from 2015–16.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leading the Charge for Thunder
What separates the Thunder this season is the frightening balance between their suffocating defense and elite shot-making. Posting the league’s best defensive rating (104.1), the Thunder swarm opponents with speed, discipline, and seamless teamwork.
At the center of the storm is reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who continues to torch defenses with surgical consistency.
Averaging 32.8 points per game, trailing only Luka Dončić in the league, SGA has led the team in scoring in 20 of their 24 games.
Add in the Thunder’s depth, and it’s no surprise they sit atop the Western Conference. For perspective, the second-seeded Lakers (17-6) are already 5.5 games back.
The Thunder’s next test comes against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Paycom Center. It will be another opportunity to extend their historic pace and fuel the growing belief that Simmons’ prediction may not be so far-fetched after all.
