How the Oklahoma City Thunder became the NBA's new...

playRedick: LeBron has 'worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen' (0:58)Redick: LeBron has 'worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen' (0:58) AS SOON AS the final buzzer sounded, Austin Reaves stomped out to midcourt to confront crew chief John Goble, delivering a closing argument of sorts after the contentious conversations that occurred between the officials and Los Angeles Lakers throughout Game 2. Once again, officiating would be a primary focal point following a convincing win by the Oklahoma City Thunder. As LeBron James and several other Lakers surrounded Reaves and the referee on the OKC logo, Oklahoma City's players observed the surreal scene. Laughter broke out among the Thunder, who had seized control of the game with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sitting on the bench in foul trouble early in the second half. "Do we get a meeting, too?" Gilgeous-Alexander joked at the moment. It's not a laughing matter to the Lakers and a lot of others around the league. As a potential dynasty rises in Oklahoma City, there are frequent complaints by competitors about the Thunder getting a friendly whistle. "I just think it's all distractions away from the court," Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN. "That's how I see it. Whether they're right or wrong, the refs have made a call, and unless you challenge it, they're not going to change it. "It's just another thing I can't control, so I really don't put any thought into it." Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning and likely repeat MVP, and the Thunder are in the midst of a historic stretch of greatness. They joined Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls (1995-97) and Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors (2014-16, '15-17) as the only teams in NBA history to win at least 80% of their games over a two-season span. No team has ever had a better point differential over two years than Oklahoma City. The discourse about the Thunder -- online and on the floor -- is often dominated by discussions about how they're officiated. Gilgeous-Alexander has been accused of "foul baiting," including by Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown following a March 12 loss to the Thunder. The prowess of Oklahoma City's defense, the league's stingiest in each of the past two seasons, is often partially attributed to the contact by aggressors such as Alex Caruso and Lu Dort. It has resulted in the Thunder becoming the NBA's new villains, taking over the mantle from the Warriors. "We're just focused on everything that happens in between the lines, but there's obviously noise around our team," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. "There's increased attention when you're in the position that we're in. There's certain things that come with the territory. I put any sort of narratives like that in that category." ESPNDRAYMOND GREEN FIRST caught the thunderous ire of Oklahoma City fans during the 2016 conference finals, kicking beloved center Steven Adams in the groin while flailing on a shot attempt. In the decade since, his name hasn't been uttered through those Paycom Arena speakers without eliciting a rainstorm of jeers -- a serenade he gets all over the country. Two months after that 2016 series, Green helped recruit Kevin Durant out of Oklahoma City, sending the Warriors' villain era into overdrive. They had a supervillain-themed team party that September, right around the time a famous cartoon spoof video was released to emphasize that label. But the heel turn began before Durant's arrival. The Warriors were the sport's sweethearts during their improbable 67-win arrival season, 2015 title and 73-win stampede. But by the end of those 2016 playoffs -- after the Curry mouthguard throw, the Green flagrant spree and the 3-1 collapse -- there was increased craving for their demise. "As a sports fan, if the same team dominates too much, you want to see an upset," Steve Kerr told ESPN. "And it happens pretty quickly. We were the darling in '15 and '16, but by the time the Finals came around, I think the average observer was pulling for LeBron [James] to pull off the comeback. I never took it personally. I've done the same thing. If a team in another sport starts to dominate, I root for the upset." Success doesn't just breed bubbling disdain from those who consume and commentate on the sport. It seeps most within those actively trying to chase the champions down and knock them off the pedestal. ESPN has you covered from the play-in tournament through the 2026 NBA Finals. • Bracket, schedule, news and highlights • Round 2 preview: What to watch • Kram: 10 lessons from Round 1 • 'Hoop Collective': Windhorst & Co. talk playoffs To gain a necessary advantage in that quest, opponents spotlight what they perceive to be unfair advantages and try to manipulate the increased policing of them. The Warriors remember dealing with it even before the Durant days. Kerr injected an ecosystem of off-ball offensive movement that fully unlocked the shooting greatness of Curry and Klay Thompson. When it

How the Oklahoma City Thunder became the NBA's new...

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