Rich Paul credits Thunder’s home dominance to the team playing in Oklahoma City.
Rich Paul has said many things in his career. Smart things. Bold things. Money-making things. But now? He may have delivered his funniest line yet:
He says the Oklahoma City Thunder dominate at home because… they live in Oklahoma City.
Rich Paul says the Thunder are so dominant at home because they play in OKC
“The teams that they're going to face are not energized. They're already thinking 'in a couple of nights, we're going to be in LA’”
(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)pic.twitter.com/afHTv96fOY
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 3, 2025
Yes, that’s the take. The whole take. The “analysis.” And honestly? I respect it even if it makes no sensew.
“[Rich Paul’s] point was but yeah but they play in OKC, you gotta take some points off,” said Kellerman. “There is no energy when you get there. The teams they are gonna face are not energized. They are already thinking that in a couple of nights we are gonna be in L.A. and there is no juice.”
In his mind, the reason you cannot compare Oklahoma City with other top contenders is how their opponents react to playing there. The idea suggests that some visiting teams arrive in Oklahoma City without the same level of focus or excitement they would have in larger markets like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, where players can enjoy the city with lavish parties and vibrant nightlife.
Because if you think about it, he might be onto something. What else is there to do in OKC besides hoop, eat, hoop again, and maybe look at a cornfield? This is not Los Angeles. This is not Miami. Nobody’s skipping practice for a photo shoot or a yacht party. There is no “I was out late at Catch” excuse. In OKC, players are in the gym because, well… where else would they be?
So Rich Paul’s take, sarcastic as it sounds, might be the most accurate scouting report of 2025: If you put talented NBA players in a city with zero distractions, they will simply become unstoppable.
