A 50-win season means something in the NBA. These are a great rounded way to measure success.
And since the 2008-09 season, when the Thunder were founded, only the Celtics, Nuggets and Spurs have had seasons with a 50/50 win pace.
OKC (50-21) picked up its 50th win in New Orleans on Tuesday night with 11 games remaining.
Why distinguish between a 50-win pace season and an actual 50-win season? Due to the pandemic, three seasons since 2008-09 (2011-12 lockout season, 2019-20 and 2020-21) season) was shortened.
A record of 50 wins and 32 losses means a winning percentage of .610. Therefore, considering the shortened season, any team with a winning percentage of .610 or higher would be on pace for 50 wins.
The Thunder have won 50 games or been at 50-win pace in eight of the last 16 seasons. Since the 2009-10 season, the Thunder's second season, OKC has posted the most 50-win seasons in the NBA.
The Thunder also had back-to-back 47-, 48- and 49-win seasons from 2016 to 2019, and have threatened the 50-win mark several times.
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OKC Thunder 50-win season
2009-10: 50-32. The Thunder jumped from 23 wins in his first year to 50 wins in his second year and qualified for the playoffs. In the first round, the Lakers defeated the Thunder 4-2.
2010-11: 55-27. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets in five games and the Grizzlies in seven games, but lost 4-1 to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.
2011-12: 47-19*. OKC won the West Division but was on pace to win 58 games that year, losing to the Heat in the NBA Finals.
2012-13: 60-22. The Thunder's just 60-win season was ruined when Patrick Beverley ran into Russell Westbrook's knee in the playoffs.
2013-14: 59-23. After defeating the Grizzlies and Clippers, the Thunder lost to the eventual champion Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
2015-16: 55-27. Kevin Durant's final season in Oklahoma City. Game 6, Klay Thompson woke up.
2019-20: 44-28*. Chris Paul's Thunder were on pace for 50 wins before the world championships were shut down. The Rockets defeated the Thunder in Game 1 of the bubble playoffs.
2023-24: 50-21. Two seasons removed from 24 wins, the Thunder reached the half-century milestone with 11 games remaining.
*50-win pace even in a shortened season
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Number of 50-win seasons in the NBA since 2008-09
9: Celtics, Nuggets, Spurs
The Celtics and Nuggets have already won 50 games this season, joining the Spurs on the league's best nine-season 50-win pace since the Thunder were founded in 2008-09. The Spurs haven't won 50 games since the 2016-17 season.
8: Thunder
The Thunder are hitting .500 in a 50-win season, the eighth time in 16 years. I'll play with it.
7: Cavaliers*, Clippers*, Rockets, Warriors
The Cavaliers and Clippers are on pace for 50 wins this season. If he reaches that point, he will be a member of the Thunder who have won eight 50-win seasons since the 2008-09 season.
6: Grizzlies
Before this unforgettable season, Memphis had won 50 games in a row.
5: 76ers, Bucks*, Heat, Jazz, Lakers, Mavericks, Raptors, Trail Blazers
Milwaukee is set to meet up with Memphis at 6 o'clock. That was until Joel Embiid got injured in Philadelphia.
3: Bulls, Magic, Suns
Although unlikely, Orlando could reach 50 wins this season. That's even less likely given Phoenix's grueling schedule. Chicago is far from 50 wins.
2: Hawks, Pacers
Indiana has a brighter future than Atlanta.
1: Knicks, Nets
The Big Apple looks bad. However, the Knicks are just shy of the 50-win pace this season.
0: Hornets, Kings, Pelicans*, Pistons, Timberwolves*, Wizards
The Timberwolves, Pelicans, and Kings are on the rise. The Hornets, Pistons, and Wizards could be at zero for a while.
*Pace of 50 wins this season.
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