54 wins! 54 wins! The first playoff team in the NBA

Here it comes, here it comes.

The defending champion Thunder have become the first team this season to secure a playoff spot, doing so 13 games ahead of schedule.

So far this season, the Thunder's record stands at 54 wins and 15 losses, leading both the Western Conference and the league. The Spurs, with 51 wins and 18 losses, and the Lakers, with 43 wins and 25 losses, follow closely behind.

Statistics show that,the Thunder is one of the best teams in terms of balanced offense and defense and overall strength. Up to this point in the season, they average 118.4 points per game (ranked fifth in the league), allow 107.7 points (ranked second), have an offensive efficiency of 116.9 (ranked seventh), a defensive efficiency of 106.3 (ranked first), a true shooting percentage of 59.6% (ranked fifth), score 22.0 points from opponent turnovers (ranked first), limit opponents' shooting percentage to 43.5% (ranked first), and have bench scoring of 40.4 points (ranked first), among other metrics.

Of course, the Thunder are not flawless; their shooting ability is their biggest weakness. Currently this season, their average three-point attempts (37.8), three-point makes (13.6), and three-point percentage (35.9%) are all only at the league's mid-level.

The Thunder's star player, Alexander, continues to deliver strong performances this season. He has played 57 games so far, averaging 33.6 minutes per game with impressive stats of 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals. His three shooting percentages are 54.9%, 38.9%, and 89.3%, and his plus-minus value of +10.6 leads the league. His field goals made (10.9) and free throws made (8.2) also rank first in the league.

According to the rules, a player must participate in at least 65 games in a single season to qualify for major regular-season awards.

As mentioned above, Alexander has already played 57 games, meaning he only needs to play eight more games to be very close to securing the MVP award again.

This player has consistently held a commanding lead in the NBA's official MVP rankings for this season.

However, it cannot be said that Alexander's second MVP is absolutely secure. The biggest competitor now is 22-year-old Wenbanyama, and the Spurs are only three wins behind the Thunder.

If Wenbanyama leads the Spurs to surpass the Thunder in the standings from now on, he might potentially overtake Alexander in the MVP race at the last moment.

This No. 1 pick from the 2023 draft, so far this season, averages 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks per game while playing only 29.3 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of 50.6%.