Nick Wright believes the Oklahoma City Thunder must secure a three-peat to earn the title of “greatest team of all time,” a feat neither Stephen Curry nor LeBron James has accomplished.
Wright is holding off on labeling the Oklahoma City Thunder as the greatest team in history until they achieve more. On Monday night, the Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Undefeated in the playoffs at 8-0, they aim to defend their NBA championship.
As the Thunder continue their dominant run, discussions about them potentially building one of the greatest teams ever have intensified. However, sports commentator Nick Wright remains cautious. When asked by Dan Patrick what it would take for the Thunder to be considered among the all-time greats, Wright set a high bar.
“A three-peat… Historically, there’s a clear record of how many championships a team or player can win. In the Bill Russell era, the max was 11. From the ’70s to ’80s, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it was six,” Wright said on The Dan Patrick Show.
“As the league becomes more competitive, the ceiling for titles lowers. If the Oklahoma City Thunder not only repeat but also achieve a three-peat in an era where no team has done so in nearly 25 years, they would undoubtedly be one of the best teams in history.”
Clearly, the Thunder must accomplish a three-peat—something LeBron James and Stephen Curry have never done, and no team has achieved since the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal-led Lakers 25 years ago—to earn Wright’s recognition as an all-time great team.
For now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are focused on becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since Kevin Durant’s Golden State Warriors eight years ago. They will face the Minnesota Timberwolves or San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals as they pursue this goal.
