The Oklahoma City Thunder’s historic 22-1 start hasn’t been powered by a single superstar, a schematic revolution, or a burst of unexpected luck. According to Aaron Wiggins, it’s been powered by something far more foundational: the team’s unwavering togetherness and a collective refusal to let ego seep into the locker room.

Wiggins, one of the most grounded voices on the roster, explained that the Thunder take pride in shutting out outside noise,good or bad, and focusing solely on what’s within their control. That internal focus has created a culture where players buy in fully, understand their roles, and embrace the identity the organization has built.

“So that togetherness within our organization,” Wiggins said, noting that the Thunder don’t  allow media narratives or public expectations to influence their approach. The consistency of the team’s mindset is something they intentionally protect. “We pride ourselves on not allowing any thoughts on the outside or any noise to pour into the way that we approach the game or the season.”

-

In a league full of stars and players chasing individual recognition, Wiggins admitted ego can easily fracture a locker room. He acknowledged that every player, across the NBA, has personal goals and career aspirations. But what separates the Thunder is how consciously they’ve avoided letting those ambitions interrupt their team first philosophy.

“You have a lot of talented players in the league…the ego is something that can creep into a setting and cause a divide,” Wiggins said. “But our team hasn’t allowed any of that to creep in.”

-

And that’s no small feat considering Oklahoma City’s roster makeup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a perennial MVP candidate. Young players like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are rising stars. Veterans like Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso constantly battle for All-Defensive honors. Role players fight for minutes every night. On most teams, those dynamics would create tension. 

In Oklahoma City, they create fuel.

Wiggins points to individual character as the underlying reason. He said the Thunder genuinely want to see one another succeed, and not just in a surface level, team speaker kind of way. 

When one player earns minutes, an award, or recognition, others don’t feel threatened. They feel proud.

“The ego is something that can creep into a setting and cause a divide and all types of different things in an organization but our team hasn’t allowed any of that to creep in.”

-

The Thunder understand that individual success means more when it elevates the team, and when the team wins, everyone benefits.

Recent examples prove the point. Dort made First Team All-Defense last season. Caruso has collected awards before. Cason Wallace just won Defensive Player of the Month. Instead of inspiring jealousy, those accolades reinforce the team’s confidence and unity.

Wiggins believes that when players know they have full support from their teammates, they play freer, harder, and more selflessly. That environment has been one of the key engines behind the Thunder blistering start.

Those “things come into play when there’s a team behind you that supports it all,” he said.

For the Thunder, that support system isn’t just a bonus, it’s their competitive edge. And as long as it stays intact, the league’s hottest start may just be a preview of much bigger things to come.