Ethan Baca
@ethanbacanba.bsky.social
Formerly: Thunder on SI | DePaul sports journalism ‘25 | “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can impart on people”
Through 13 games, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have shared over half as many regular-season minutes this season (184) as last season (316).
So far, that pair has stifled opponents in all three important defensive categories – including rebounding, a recent team weakness.
So far, that pair has stifled opponents in all three important defensive categories – including rebounding, a recent team weakness.
November 14, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Through 13 games, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have shared over half as many regular-season minutes this season (184) as last season (316).
So far, that pair has stifled opponents in all three important defensive categories – including rebounding, a recent team weakness.
So far, that pair has stifled opponents in all three important defensive categories – including rebounding, a recent team weakness.
OKC needed all of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career-high 55 points to beat IND in double overtime Thursday night.
The breakdown:
6-for-10 (60%) on layups
7-for-14 (50%) on mid-range jumpers
2-for-7 (28.6%) on 3-pointers
14 of Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 field goals were unassisted.
The breakdown:
6-for-10 (60%) on layups
7-for-14 (50%) on mid-range jumpers
2-for-7 (28.6%) on 3-pointers
14 of Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 field goals were unassisted.
October 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
OKC needed all of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career-high 55 points to beat IND in double overtime Thursday night.
The breakdown:
6-for-10 (60%) on layups
7-for-14 (50%) on mid-range jumpers
2-for-7 (28.6%) on 3-pointers
14 of Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 field goals were unassisted.
The breakdown:
6-for-10 (60%) on layups
7-for-14 (50%) on mid-range jumpers
2-for-7 (28.6%) on 3-pointers
14 of Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 field goals were unassisted.
For the 43rd straight season, NBA teams committed more fouls per 100 possessions in the playoffs than regular season.
This applied to six of OKC’s nine players who logged at least 200 playoff minutes.
This applied to six of OKC’s nine players who logged at least 200 playoff minutes.
September 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
For the 43rd straight season, NBA teams committed more fouls per 100 possessions in the playoffs than regular season.
This applied to six of OKC’s nine players who logged at least 200 playoff minutes.
This applied to six of OKC’s nine players who logged at least 200 playoff minutes.
Last season, 16 regular-season players and 10 playoff players registered usage rates above 30%.
Their turnovers per 100 possessions:
Their turnovers per 100 possessions:
September 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Last season, 16 regular-season players and 10 playoff players registered usage rates above 30%.
Their turnovers per 100 possessions:
Their turnovers per 100 possessions:
Same font and number design as the 2018-19 City Edition, with a darker colorway and mirrored pattern
August 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Same font and number design as the 2018-19 City Edition, with a darker colorway and mirrored pattern
The Oklahoma City Thunder has released its 2025-26 City Edition jersey:
August 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The Oklahoma City Thunder has released its 2025-26 City Edition jersey:
For your convenience:
August 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
For your convenience:
Chet Holmgren’s counting stats will likely never do him justice, since he is an elite defensive anchor above all else.
Thunder has been 2.7 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 3,290 regular-season minutes, and 10.0 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 1,031 playoff minutes.
Thunder has been 2.7 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 3,290 regular-season minutes, and 10.0 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 1,031 playoff minutes.
July 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Chet Holmgren’s counting stats will likely never do him justice, since he is an elite defensive anchor above all else.
Thunder has been 2.7 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 3,290 regular-season minutes, and 10.0 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 1,031 playoff minutes.
Thunder has been 2.7 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 3,290 regular-season minutes, and 10.0 points/100 possessions better with Holmgren in 1,031 playoff minutes.
The place to be tonight.
June 19, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The place to be tonight.
Thunder is already a great team – and its No. 2 and No. 3 options are 24 and 23 years old, respectively.
May 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Thunder is already a great team – and its No. 2 and No. 3 options are 24 and 23 years old, respectively.
Sam Presti before the 2022 draft lottery:
May 13, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Sam Presti before the 2022 draft lottery:
I wrote about Kevin Durant’s 2013-14 MVP season in December:
March 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I wrote about Kevin Durant’s 2013-14 MVP season in December:
Pelicans take down the Suns 124-116 – and have won three straight for the first time this season.
Check out Zion Williamson’s shot chart:
Check out Zion Williamson’s shot chart:
February 28, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Pelicans take down the Suns 124-116 – and have won three straight for the first time this season.
Check out Zion Williamson’s shot chart:
Check out Zion Williamson’s shot chart:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot chart from last night is a thing of beauty:
February 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot chart from last night is a thing of beauty:
In visualization form:
February 24, 2025 at 6:29 AM
In visualization form:
This feels relevant.
February 2, 2025 at 6:03 AM
This feels relevant.
DePaul women’s tennis beat UIC 4-1 in its home opener today.
Doubles
No. 1 Smith/Goncharov won 6-3
No. 3 Cochran/Stula won 6-1
Singles
No. 2 Nobbs beat Cosmo 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Stula beat Belberka 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 Liu beat Gibson 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 Goncharov beat Halbersztadt 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Smith/Goncharov won 6-3
No. 3 Cochran/Stula won 6-1
Singles
No. 2 Nobbs beat Cosmo 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Stula beat Belberka 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 Liu beat Gibson 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 Goncharov beat Halbersztadt 6-2, 6-4
January 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
DePaul women’s tennis beat UIC 4-1 in its home opener today.
Doubles
No. 1 Smith/Goncharov won 6-3
No. 3 Cochran/Stula won 6-1
Singles
No. 2 Nobbs beat Cosmo 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Stula beat Belberka 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 Liu beat Gibson 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 Goncharov beat Halbersztadt 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Smith/Goncharov won 6-3
No. 3 Cochran/Stula won 6-1
Singles
No. 2 Nobbs beat Cosmo 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Stula beat Belberka 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 Liu beat Gibson 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 Goncharov beat Halbersztadt 6-2, 6-4
Interesting…
SGA before this article: One 40-point game in 27 appearances
He dropped an efficient 41 last night.
SGA before this article: One 40-point game in 27 appearances
He dropped an efficient 41 last night.
December 24, 2024 at 6:48 PM
Interesting…
SGA before this article: One 40-point game in 27 appearances
He dropped an efficient 41 last night.
SGA before this article: One 40-point game in 27 appearances
He dropped an efficient 41 last night.
My 2025 All-Star ballot:
December 19, 2024 at 9:46 PM
My 2025 All-Star ballot:
So about that interior touch … Take a look at SGA’s first-quarter shot chart:
December 8, 2024 at 12:37 AM
So about that interior touch … Take a look at SGA’s first-quarter shot chart:
Oklahoma City’s third-quarter shot chart:
December 4, 2024 at 2:57 AM
Oklahoma City’s third-quarter shot chart:
Thunder fans: What is your most surprising takeaway from these scoring lists?
November 25, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Thunder fans: What is your most surprising takeaway from these scoring lists?
The top row is encouraging, to say the least.
November 20, 2024 at 7:35 PM
The top row is encouraging, to say the least.