OKC Thunder’s Cason Wallace continues to make his case for defense

Most NBA observers agree: The Oklahoma City Thunder not only have one of the best defenses in the NBA, but also one of the best in recent memory.

OKC’s defense led the team to 68 regular season wins and an NBA title in 2024-25 despite a lackluster shooting performance in the playoffs. This year, the group has picked up where they left off, as the Thunder hold a 23-1 record thanks to a strong defensive performance.

Not only is OKC’s defense up to par with impressive defenders like Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort and others, but the stats also indicate the strength of the unit. The Thunder have a defensive rating of 104.1, which is the best rating in the NBA.

The Houston Rockets are in second place on this list with a defensive rating of 110.7. OKC also has the NBA’s best NET rating, #2 turnover percentage and #2 assist-to-turnover ratio. In addition to the other talented defenders on OKC’s team, one player has played a key role in the team’s efforts on that side of the court.

Cason Wallace, a third-year guard from Kentucky, made a strong case to become OKC’s next All-Defense honoree after Williams and Dort earned that recognition last season. Wallace has played in 23 games this season, and with a number of Thunder players, like Williams, Dort and Caruso, missing multiple games, the 22-year-old has been a starter all season.

Wallace’s importance in Oklahoma City’s rotation has given the young guard more opportunities to showcase his defensive skills and rack up impressive defensive stats. That combination could be enough to earn Wallace All-Defense looks if he continues to perform well and stay healthy.

Currently, Wallace is among the league leaders in steals with 2.3 per game and is tied for the most games in the NBA this season with 5 or more steals. Wallace’s most recent 5-steal performance came in OKC’s win over the Jazz.

The defensive stalwart has recorded a steal in 22 of his 23 games this year in addition to a number of deflections and impactful defensive plays that aren’t included in the stat sheet.

If Wallace can continue to overthrow opposing teams at the same rate and stay in the starting lineup most of the year, he should have a solid chance at earning All-Defense recognition.

With Williams ineligible for end-of-season awards, Wallace could replace the All-NBA wing as one of the Thunder’s representatives on the 2026 All-Defense team.