Redick Fires Challenge at Thunder: “One of the Best Teams in NBA History”
Redick’s assessment says everything about the weight of this series: the Thunder are being described as one of the great teams in NBA history. For the Lakers, a new and steep step opens on the road to the top
After defeating the Houston Rockets in six games, the Los Angeles Lakers now turn their focus to the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It is a matchup that looks nearly impossible given the statistical profile of their opponent.
Every level you move up in the playoffs gets harder. We’ve talked about growing over the last three weeks; now we have to do it even more
JJ Redick
Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke plainly to reporters, calling the Thunder “one of the strongest teams in the history of the NBA”.
Yesterday I told several people, away from the facility, while talking about this series, that to me the Thunder are one of the greatest teams in NBA history. It’s simply reality. They’re that good. I think our guys recognize that and respect them, and we know what kind of challenge is in front of us
JJ Redick
Redick based his analysis on remarkable numbers: the Thunder posted a Net Rating above 10 in back-to-back seasons, something previously achieved only by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors:
We saw a stat in the morning meeting: teams that had two straight seasons with a net rating of 10 or more – we’re talking about the ’95-96 and ’96-97 Bulls, and the ’15-17 Warriors. Literally, we’re talking about two of the greatest teams of all time
JJ Redick
- OKC (2024-25): 12.8 Net Rating (2nd all-time)
- OKC (2025-26): 11.1 Net Rating (8th all-time)
The Thunder Defense
For the Lakers, the next test raises the bar even higher. They are facing a team that has built its identity on elite defensive aggression and high-level reads.
They’re top five in every category tied to defensive pressure: steals, blocks, turnovers forced, all of it. And they don’t foul. Somehow they do all that without fouling, which is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in NBA history
JJ Redick
The Thunder excel at forcing turnovers (9.7 steals per game) while committing very few fouls, a balance Redick described as “one of the most incredible in league history”. With Luka Doncic expected to miss the start of the series, the Lakers’ task of protecting the ball becomes even tougher.
After finishing the regular season with the league’s best record (64-18), OKC owns home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Game 1 will be played Tuesday night, and without their primary ball-handler, the Lakers must prove they can withstand an elite defense or risk mentally falling behind in the series immediately.