How the Thunder Built a Winning Culture

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the No. 1 team in the Western Conference with a 33-6 record. They have become the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history and are on a 69-win pace this season. The Thunder have built a winning culture by focusing on the mundane and having fun.

The Thunder's Core Philosophies

The Thunder have remained true to their core organizational philosophies even as they have emerged as an elite team earlier than anticipated. Coach Mark Daigneault has managed to get one of the league's youngest teams to consistently embrace the mundane -- from skill work to game-plan detail -- even while experiencing success that often results in inflated egos.

The Thunder's Young Core

The Thunder's young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren has been the driving force behind the team's success. Gilgeous-Alexander has worked his way from intriguing prospect to All-Star to arguably the NBA's most well-rounded superstar. Williams and Holmgren have proven themselves as star-caliber complements to Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Thunder's Role Players

The Thunder's role players have also been crucial to the team's success. Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Luetentz Dort have all earned new four-year contracts over the summer. Caruso and Hartenstein have fit into the Thunder's culture and style of play and have been essential role players.

The Thunder's Chemistry

The Thunder's chemistry has been on display during their postgame interviews, which always are group affairs and occasionally end with barking. The Thunder take their jobs extremely seriously, but they also know how to have fun and enjoy the moment.

The Thunder's Future

The Thunder are in the early stages of an extended window as a contender. Rival executives and coaches widely believe that the Thunder are in the early stages of an extended window as a contender, but Oklahoma City's roster has been built without repeated swings in the upper half of the draft lottery.

The Thunder have built a winning culture by focusing on the mundane and having fun. The Thunder are the No. 1 team in the West and are on a 69-win pace this season. The Thunder have a bright future ahead of them and are a team to watch in the NBA.