Through twelve weeks of action, the Oklahoma City Thunder are 32-6. The Thunder were on a franchise record fifteen game winning streak, before losing in a classic in Cleveland earlier in the week.

The Thunder continues to display and maintain their dominance — as they’ve separated themselves as the best in the West and currently holds a 6.5-game lead over the No.2 seed in the West.

Here’s my Week 12 — Thunder Player of the Week:

OKC Player Of The Week

Aaron Wiggins

After going through a mini slump during mid December, Aaron Wiggins is playing his best stretch of basketball off the season. The numbers doesn’t fully indicate how well Wiggins played throughout the week. In three games this week: he averaged 14 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2 assists, while shooting 69.5 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3P, and 87.5 percent from the free throw line.

To cap off Week 12 — Wiggins put together his best performance of the season, putting up: a season-high — 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal & block — against Washington.

Wiggins continues to be one of the most underrated role players in the league and is currently on a bargain of a contract for the Thunder — 5 years, $45 million.

Aaron Wiggins Saving Basketball

If you have followed the Thunder in any capacity since Sam Presti selected Aaron Wiggins with the 55th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, then you know about the “Aaron Wiggins Saved Basketball” meme. Wiggins continues to prove that he’s more than a meme.

Before the Thunder broke their franchise record for longest winning streak, was on a 13-game winning streak at the time, when the New York Knicks came into Oklahoma City and was on the verge in ending the win streak. Wiggins stepped up and saved basketball. And just like that, the streak lived on and the Thunder broke their franchise record.

Here’s Aaron Wiggins stepping up and putting together an incredible 4th quarter performance, when the team needed it the most against the Knicks in the Thunder’s comeback win. Scored 15 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting. Went 4-of-4 from 3P. Played all 12 mins. Generated 19 of OKC’s 37 points in the 4th by himself:

Wiggins has continued to stack up good performances together lately — scoring in double-figures — in 6 of the last 9 games for the Thunder. Over the last nine games: Wiggins is averaging 13.8 points on 62/45/92 shooting splits — off the bench.

Wiggins is putting up career numbers in points, as he is averaging 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists while shooting 49% from the floor, 40.1% from 3P, and 84.8% from the free-throw-line. The numbers do not fully indicate Wiggins’s impact off the bench for the Thunder this season (especially as of late).

Mark Daigneault on Aaron Wiggins

Here’s a quote that has stuck with me — on how Mark Daigneault broke down Aaron Wiggins best qualities.

“Everything… He’s a complete player… his best skill is the fact… he’s good at everything… Especially with the system, his skills aren’t within a vacuum, his skills are additive to the system and the way we want to play on both ends of the floor, he enhances the whole… the skills are in a vacuum, the skills are contagious and the skills help enhances everybody else.”

Here’s high praise from Mark Daigneault on Aaron Wiggins development & offensive stretch.

“Just a great developmental tangible example of development over time. He’s just steadily put the work in. Learned from his experiences, learned the system, and this is who he is. He’s a really good player.”

Takeaways — Maintaining Dominance

Despite falling to Cleveland in a classic game, to end their franchise record winning streak, the Thunder had an impressive week, going 2-1.

Wins: @ New York Knicks (126 to 101) @ Washington Wizards (136 to 95)

Loss: @ Cleveland Cavaliers (122 to 129)

The Thunder have been dominant, since the return of Isaiah Harteinstein: the Thunder are 21-2 and over their recent stretch — they won a franchise record (15) consecutive games, with some impressive wins during this stretch of games against Sacramento, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas, Houston, Indiana, Memphis, Minnesota, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston, and New York.

End Of My Thunder Rant

Alex Caruso has missed the last ten games due to a (left hip strain) There is no update on his return. More unfortunate news: Ajay Mitchell had a procedure to address a (turf toe sprain) in the great toe on his right foot. According to the Thunder, the plan is to reevaluate Mitchell in approximately 10-to-12 weeks. That means he’s expected to be sidelined until at least late March, and possibly beyond that.

The Thunder are starting to gain more exposure as they are gaining a lot of national attention and rightfully so, as the Thunder has been the most dominant team in the league up to this point of the season.