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As the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder are playing with a target on their backs. Despite that pressure, the Thunder still have an amazing 6-0 record that leads the Western Conference and the league. They are doing this without one of their star players.

When people talk about the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the biggest standout player. Apart from him, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are not too far behind. The former has been excellent since his rookie season as a secondary star, culminating in an All-NBA nod in the 2024-25 season.

While Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren have played well to start the season in their 6-0 start, Williams is nowhere to be found. He had a torn ligament in his right wrist, for which he underwent surgery back in July.

Williams underwent a follow-up procedure on his wrist to remove a screw that was creating irritation during the final stages of his return to play. Now, Williams will be re-evaluated in 10 to 14 days. Head coach Mark Daigneault believes his team will do well in filling in for Williams.

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Daigneault sees Barnhizer as a solid contributor

As the 44th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooks Barnhizer is not a popular name that most NBA fans recognize. He stood out at Northwestern University as he played four years there from 2021 to 2025.

The Thunder recognized that he could be good enough to stay with their roster, so they selected him 44th overall and gave him a two-way contract.

During the 2025-26 preseason, the Thunder saw that Barnhizer could be a useful player. He has played an increased role ever since, especially with Williams’ injury. The Thunder have reached into their depth more and more, which has led to Ajay Mitchell’s rise in the 2025-26 season.

Many people are saying that Mitchell is making a case to become a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. However, he is not the only player who has been breaking out as a contributor because Barnhizer is making a difference with his energy off the bench.

This has not gone unnoticed by Daigneault and his staff, who want to continue competing withother contenders like the Denver Nuggets.

“We’ve obviously had some injuries to rotation players and that’s never great, but the silver lining to that is the opportunities you can give other people,” Daigneault said after practice.

“The minutes we were able to get him in the preseason, specifically positioned us to be able to put him in games to start the season. He’s done a great job, and he’s gonna keep getting better. He will, and he’s gonna need (OKC) Blue time at some point, which will allow him to rub some things out. In the meantime, he’s doing a nice job.”

The Thunder’s depth is the key to their success

Over the years, the Thunder have improved their depth little by little. They cracked the code when they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso and signed Isaiah Hartenstein. This helped them reach their full potential and win the championship in 2025.

Even though it was hard parting ways with a player like Giddey, it was necessary. Now, the Thunder are doubling down by selecting some underrated players in the later stages of the Draft. Barnhizer is the latest addition to their team, as he could become a strong player like Mitchell or at least a reliable rotation player when called upon.

There will come a time when Williams returns, and Barnhizer will play for the Blue in the G-League. In the meantime, he should relish his opportunity and maximize it to secure a long-term future in the NBA.