Which team has better defensive capabilities?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a superior defensive rating of 105.8 compared to Denver's 108.2 in the 2024-25 season. OKC's younger, more athletic roster combined with strong defensive schemes has made them one of the league's best defensive teams, though Denver remains highly competitive.

Is the Thunder a better long-term investment than the Nuggets?

The Thunder have more draft assets and a younger roster suggesting higher long-term ceiling, while the Nuggets are proven champions ready to contend now. The Thunder might have better future years ahead, but the Nuggets are in their championship window. It depends on your investment timeline.

When was the last time these teams faced in the playoffs?

The Nuggets and Thunder most recently faced each other in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, with Denver winning the series. This matchup demonstrated the Nuggets' established playoff experience versus the Thunder's emerging competitiveness.

What are the salary cap situations for both teams?

The Denver Nuggets are operating near the luxury tax threshold with an expensive championship roster, while the Oklahoma City Thunder have more salary cap flexibility and can make strategic moves to add veteran talent around their core young players.

Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Updated March 28, 2026

Denver Nuggets

Western Conference team that fell just short in an exciting road loss

Fans seeking immediate championship contention and established star power

Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Fans interested in young talent development and future championship potential

Short Answer

The Denver Nuggets are the defending NBA champions with star players like Nikola Jokic, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are a younger, high-potential team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Nuggets have established playoff success, whereas the Thunder are rebuilding with promising draft picks and emerging talent.

Our Verdict

The Denver Nuggets remain the more established championship-caliber team with proven playoff success and an elite MVP-level player in Jokic. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder represent a compelling young roster with better defensive efficiency and significant future potential for sustained success. The choice depends on whether you value current championship contention or long-term growth prospects.

Denver Nuggets8

7Oklahoma City Thunder

Choose Denver Nuggets if

Fans seeking immediate championship contention and established star power

Choose Oklahoma City Thunder if

Fans interested in young talent development and future championship potential

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Championship Success: Denver Nuggets wins (2023 NBA Champions vs No championships)

🔹

MVP Caliber Player: Denver Nuggets wins (Nikola Jokic (3x MVP) vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rising star))

🔹

Playoff Experience: Denver Nuggets wins (Multiple Finals appearances vs Early-stage rebuilding phase)

See all 7 differences

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Key Differences

Denver Nuggets

Attribute

Oklahoma City Thunder

2023 NBA Champions🏆

Championship Success

No championships

Nikola Jokic (3x MVP)🏆

MVP Caliber Player

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rising star)

Multiple Finals appearances🏆

Playoff Experience

Early-stage rebuilding phase

Prime/veteran roster

Team Age/Development Stage

Young and developing🏆

Limited future picks

Draft Capital

Multiple future assets🏆

108.2 (2024-25 season)

Defensive Rating

105.8 (2024-25 season)🏆

Consistent contenders

Win-Loss Record Trajectory

Rapidly improving record

Championship Success

Denver Nuggets

2023 NBA Champions🏆

Oklahoma City Thunder

No championships

MVP Caliber Player

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic (3x MVP)🏆

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rising star)

Playoff Experience

Denver Nuggets

Multiple Finals appearances🏆

Oklahoma City Thunder

Early-stage rebuilding phase

Team Age/Development Stage

Denver Nuggets

Prime/veteran roster

Oklahoma City Thunder

Young and developing🏆

Draft Capital

Denver Nuggets

Limited future picks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Multiple future assets🏆

Defensive Rating

Denver Nuggets

108.2 (2024-25 season)

Oklahoma City Thunder

105.8 (2024-25 season)🏆

Win-Loss Record Trajectory

Denver Nuggets

Consistent contenders

Oklahoma City Thunder

Rapidly improving record

Full Comparison

Attribute	Denver Nuggets	Oklahoma City Thunder

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)	27.2	—

Kawhi Leonard Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)	N/A	—

Team Offensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)	113.8	—
Team Defensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)	107.2	—

Championships Won(titles)	1 (2023)	—

Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)(APG)	7.8 (Murray)	—

Three-Point Shooting Percentage(%)	36.8	—
Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)	42.9% (6-14 FG)	N/A
Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)	50% (2-4 3P)	N/A
Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)	90% (9-10 FT)	N/A
Field Goal Percentage(%)	48.2%	—

Average Team Payroll (2025-26)(Million USD)	$182M	—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)	33.6 PPG	N/A
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)	N/A	30.1 PPG

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)	108.2	105.8

2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)	57-25	56-26
Wins-Losses Record(W-L)	48-22	—
Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)	57-16	—
Conference Standing(Seed Position)	1st Seed	—

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)	1 (2023)	0

Average Team Age(years)	27.8 years	24.8

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	118.2	119.3
Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)	28.4	—
Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)	116.8	—
Points Per Game(PPG)	118.5	—

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)	5 of 5	2 of 5
Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)	47-22	—

Championship Titles(titles)	1	—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	110.5	108.5
Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)	8.9	—

Net Rating(points per 100 possessions)	+7.7	—

Star Player (Primary)	Nikola Jokic (MVP)	—
Star Player PPG Average(PPG)	30.2 (SGA)	—

Bench Scoring(points per game)	28.4	26.4

Three-Point Percentage(percent)	37.8%	37.4%
3-Point Percentage(percent)	37.9%	—

Most Recent Playoff Round	Finals (2024)	—
Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)	Never	—

Final Score(points)	129	126

Location	Away - Denver, CO	Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Aaron Gordon Points(points)	23	N/A

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)	+14	N/A

Game-Winning Play	Jokic 3P (0:08 remaining) - 125-126	Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129

Win-Loss Record(games)	54-16	—
Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)	2nd (West)	—
Conference Rank(position)	1st (Western)	—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)	33.4 (SGA)	—

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)	47.1	—
Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)	10+ (Holmgren)	—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)	28.1 (SGA)	—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)	28.3	—

Average Points Per Game(points)	117.8	—

All-Star Selections(players)	3 All-Stars	—

Playoff Seed(position)	1st seed	—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)	109.3	—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	47.1	—

All-Time Championships(titles)	0	—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)	4	—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)	—

Coach Tenure(seasons)	6 seasons	—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)	48-52	—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)	115.2	—

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)	10.9 (SGA)	—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)	110 points	—

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)	Led 52-46 at halftime	—

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)	Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack	—

Denver Nuggets

Oklahoma City Thunder

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)

27.2

—

Kawhi Leonard Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)

N/A

—

Team Offensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)

113.8

—

Team Defensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)

107.2

—

Championships Won(titles)

1 (2023)

—

Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)(APG)

7.8 (Murray)

—

Three-Point Shooting Percentage(%)

36.8

—

Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)

42.9% (6-14 FG)

N/A

Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)

50% (2-4 3P)

N/A

Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)

90% (9-10 FT)

N/A

Field Goal Percentage(%)

48.2%

—

Average Team Payroll (2025-26)(Million USD)

$182M

—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)

33.6 PPG

N/A

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)

N/A

30.1 PPG

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)

108.2

105.8

2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)

57-25

56-26

Wins-Losses Record(W-L)

48-22

—

Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)

57-16

—

Conference Standing(Seed Position)

1st Seed

—

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)

1 (2023)

Average Team Age(years)

27.8 years

24.8

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

118.2

119.3

Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)

28.4

—

Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)

116.8

—

Points Per Game(PPG)

118.5

—

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)

5 of 5

2 of 5

Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)

47-22

—

Championship Titles(titles)

—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

110.5

108.5

Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)

8.9

—

Net Rating(points per 100 possessions)

+7.7

—

Star Player (Primary)

Nikola Jokic (MVP)

—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)

30.2 (SGA)

—

Bench Scoring(points per game)

28.4

26.4

Three-Point Percentage(percent)

37.8%

37.4%

3-Point Percentage(percent)

37.9%

—

Most Recent Playoff Round

Finals (2024)

—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)

Never

—

Final Score(points)

129

126

Location

Away - Denver, CO

Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Aaron Gordon Points(points)

N/A

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)

+14

N/A

Game-Winning Play

Jokic 3P (0:08 remaining) - 125-126

Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129

Win-Loss Record(games)

54-16

—

Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)

2nd (West)

—

Conference Rank(position)

1st (Western)

—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)

33.4 (SGA)

—

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)

47.1

—

Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)

10+ (Holmgren)

—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)

28.1 (SGA)

—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)

28.3

—

Average Points Per Game(points)

117.8

—

All-Star Selections(players)

3 All-Stars

—

Playoff Seed(position)

1st seed

—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)

109.3

—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

47.1

—

All-Time Championships(titles)

—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)

—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)

—

Coach Tenure(seasons)

6 seasons

—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)

48-52

—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)

115.2

—

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)

10.9 (SGA)

—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)

110 points

—

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)

Led 52-46 at halftime

—

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)

Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack

—

Visual Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes

Pros & Cons

Denver Nuggets

5 pros2 cons

Pros

2023 NBA Champions with proven championship formula
Nikola Jokic is a 3-time MVP in his prime
Established winning culture and playoff success
Strong supporting cast including Jamal Murray
Home court advantage in Denver's high altitude

Cons

Aging roster with limited flexibility
High payroll creating luxury tax concerns

Oklahoma City Thunder

5 pros2 cons

Pros

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a rising MVP candidate
Superior defensive efficiency rating
Young roster with significant growth potential
Multiple future draft picks and trade assets
Rapid improvement trajectory under current management

Cons

Limited playoff success and championship experience
Team is in early stages of development

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nikola Jokic is a 3-time NBA MVP with more playoff experience and championship success, averaging 33.6 PPG in 2024-25. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an emerging star averaging 30.1 PPG and is considered an MVP candidate for future seasons. Jokic has established dominance, while SGA represents the future of the Thunder franchise.

Resources & Learn More

Dive deeper with these curated resources

Wikipedia

Denver Nuggets on Wikipedia

Western Conference team that fell just short in an exciting road loss

Oklahoma City Thunder on Wikipedia

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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Last updated: March 28, 2026AI generated