How many 50-win seasons has the Thunder had? Where does that rank?
Fifty-win seasons mean something in the NBA. They're a nice, round way to gauge success.
And since 2008-09, when the Thunder was established, only the Celtics, Nuggets and Spurs have more 50win/50-win pace seasons than the Thunder.
OKC (50-21), with 11 games to play, earned win No. 50 Tuesday night in New Orleans.
Why distinguish a 50-win pace season from an actual 50-win season? Three seasons since 2008-09 have been shortened: the 2011-12 lockout season and the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons due to the pandemic.
A 50-32 record is a .610 winning percentage. So when taking into account shortened seasons, any team with a .610 winning percentage or higher was on a 50-win pace.
The Thunder has won 50 games or been on a 50-win pace in eight of its 16 seasons in existence. Since 2009-10, the Thunder's second year, OKC is tied for the most 50-win seasons in the NBA.
The Thunder has also teased the 50win mark a few times, with back-toback-to-back 47, 48 and 49-win seasons from 2016-19.
OKC Thunder 50-win seasons
2009-10: 50-32. The Thunder jumped from 23 wins in Year 1 to 50 wins and a playoff bid in Year 2. The Lakers beat the Thunder 4-2 in the first round.
2010-11: 55-27. The Thunder beat the Nuggets in five games and the Grizzlies in seven before losing 4-1 to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.
2011-12: 47-19*. OKC was on a 58-win pace the year it won the West and lost to the Heat in the NBA Finals.
2012-13: 60-22. The Thunder's only 60-win season was ruined when Patrick Beverley rammed into Russell Westbrook's knee in the playoffs.
2013-14: 59-23. After beating the Grizzlies and Clippers, the Thunder fell to the eventual-champion Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
2015-16: 55-27. Kevin Durant's last season in Oklahoma City. Game 6 Klay Thompson happened.
2019-20: 44-28*. The Chris Paul-led Thunder was on a 50-win pace before the world shut down. The Rockets beat the Thunder in Round 1 of the bubble playoffs.
2023-24: 50-21. Two seasons removed from 24 wins, the Thunder has reached the half-century mark with 11 games to play.
*Fifty-win pace in shortened season
Number of 50-win NBA seasons since 2008-09
9: Celtics, Nuggets, Spurs
The Celtics and Nuggets, having already won 50 games this season, joined the Spurs with a league-best nine 50win pace seasons since 2008-09, the year the Thunder was established. The Spurs haven't won 50 games since 2016-17.
8: Thunder
The Thunder is batting .500 on 50win seasons — eight in 16 years. That'll play.
7: Cavaliers*, Clippers*, Rockets, Warriors
The Cavaliers and the Clippers are on a 50-win pace this season. Should they get there, they'll join the Thunder with eight 50-win seasons since 2008-09.
6: Grizzlies
Memphis was coming off back-toback 50-win campaigns before this forgettable season.
5: 76ers, Bucks*, Heat, Jazz, Lakers, Mavericks, Raptors, Trail Blazers
Milwaukee is on pace to join Memphis at six. Philadelphia was until Joel Embiid's injury.
3: Bulls, Magic, Suns
It's unlikely, but Orlando could get to 50 wins this season. Even more unlikely for Phoenix given its rugged schedule. Chicago is nowhere close to sniffing 50 wins.
2: Hawks, Pacers
Indiana has a brighter future than does Atlanta.
1: Knicks, Nets
Bad look for the Big Apple. The Knicks are just shy of a 50-win pace this season, though.
0: Hornets, Kings, Pelicans*, Pistons, Timberwolves*, Wizards
The Timberwolves, Pelicans and Kings are trending up. The Hornets, Pistons and Wizards might be stuck on zero for a while.
* On pace for 50 wins this season.