Steve Nash breaks down the Thunder's principles that make them an elite defensive team: "They keep that paint area a no-go zone"

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Steve Nash breaks down the Thunder's principles that make them an elite defensive team: "They keep that paint area a no-go zone" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Steve Nash did not have a reputation as a good defender, but he knows an elite defense when he sees one. In the latest episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast, the two-time MVP raved about the Oklahoma City Thunder's defensive philosophies and explained how these fundamental principles make the court a living hell for their opponents.
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"They're a 'pack the paint' team; they want to keep you out of the paint," Nash said. "So, for the fan, if a guy drives from the wing middle, typically in our league, we wanna show body and stunt because we don't wanna give up a three or create a rotation. OKC, they will show full-body help to keep it out of the paint, especially for the primary initiator. They give a full-body rotation, which leaves weakness on the back side. So, the guy from the corner… who's an athlete, flies to the corner."
"I think what they do is pack the paint, they give up threes, but they give up contested threes. Hard contests, flying at guys. It gets dark; you think you're wide open, before you know it, it's like, 'Ah!'" the Hall of Famer added.
AC embodies that philosophy
As "MVSteve" mentioned, these principles work for the Thunder because of their personnel. They could employ multiple 3-and-D guys at once, and they all buy into the team's defensive philosophy. Nobody personifies the Thunder mantra as well as Alex Caruso, as LeBron James could attest.
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"One of my favorite plays from their clincher (in the Western Conference Finals), AC was guarding the ball on the left wing… Anthony Edwards was able to get middle… but AC, he went middle, and there was a guy that helped at the nail. Full body help at the nail and made Anthony Edwards get off it. He hit the guy on the wing, and there was a defender on the corner, and he rotated all the way to take away that shot on the wing," James recalled.
The nail is literally the spot in the middle of the free-throw line. OKC usually has a guy posted there to prevent drives to the paint, and in this scenario, another Thunder defender was helping Caruso in his "Ant-Man" assignment. As James remembered, another OKC defender came flying at the open guy on the wing, which prompted an immediate reaction from the "Bald Mamba."
"Instead of AC just standing and watching, he ran through to the corner. Julius Randle actually made this three, but the percentages when it comes to this effort, they're gonna win that percentage," stated "The Chosen One."
Related: "Shaq, I'm from the Balkans, you cannot haze me so hard, I've seen everything" - Goran Dragic recalls how he survived Shaquille O'Neal's rookie treatment
"No-go zone"
From Nash and James' viewpoints, OKC's defensive philosophy and their personnel's commitment to bringing this to life took them this far, with a chance to win the Larry O'Brien trophy. Again, there are nuances in play, but it's fundamental basketball that fans should enjoy watching.
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"For the fan to recognize, they're gonna keep you out of the paint. They're gonna allow you to take threes, but they're gonna fly out and be on a string and contest those threes. I love that principle… they keep that paint area a no-go zone. To me, that's a commitment, that's a clarity," said one of the best pure point guards ever.
The exciting thing about the 2025 NBA Finals is that the Indiana Pacers are not a team that lives in the paint. They move the rock around and play the closeout game extremely well. As many NBA experts have noticed, their ball movement could theoretically test the Thunder's defensive commitment. Whether that movement leads to breakdowns or just more contested jumpers will be a chess match to watch.
Related: "It would put him in the conversation of top-five point guards of all-time" - Ric Bucher on what if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2025 Finals MVP
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.