Charles Barkley isn’t one to mince words, and when it comes to this year’s NBA title race, he’s got his sights set squarely on the Western Conference. According to the Hall of Famer and longtime analyst, only two teams have what it takes to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy come June: the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets.
It’s a bold take, but one that’s hard to argue with when you look at how both squads are performing. The Thunder, even while navigating a wave of injuries-including key absences from All-Star Jalen Williams and big man Isaiah Hartenstein-have managed to stay at the top of the NBA standings with a league-best 37-9 record. That’s not just winning-it’s dominating.
And then there’s Denver. The defending champs may be sitting six games back at 31-15, but don’t let that gap fool you.
They’ve been quietly stacking wins, even without their MVP centerpiece, Nikola Jokic, for stretches. Over their last 10 games, the Nuggets have gone 7-3, showing they can still find ways to win when the big man isn’t on the floor.
Barkley’s take came during a recent segment on Inside the NBA, where he made his stance clear: “My opinion is only two teams can win a championship,” he said. “I look at the Denver Nuggets and the OKC Thunder as the two teams that'll separate themselves.”
It’s not just about records-it’s about roster depth, chemistry, and the ability to adjust. Denver’s front office clearly took last season’s playoff exit to heart, when they were bounced in a grueling seven-game second-round series by none other than the Thunder.
In response, they reloaded over the offseason, bringing in Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas. Each of those additions has played a role in keeping Denver in the mix.
But perhaps the biggest X-factor for the Nuggets this season has been Peyton Watson. The fourth-year guard is having a breakout year, averaging career-highs across the board-14.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. His emergence has given Denver another layer of versatility, and it’s part of why Barkley sees them as Oklahoma City’s top challenger.
Circle next Sunday on your calendar-that’s when the Thunder and Nuggets will face off for the first time this season. Given the way both teams are trending, it’s not just a regular-season matchup-it’s a potential Western Conference Finals preview.
Of course, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Thunder. They’re currently in the middle of a three-game homestand at the Paycom Center, and Friday night’s loss to the Pacers was a reminder that even the best teams can slip. Despite nearly clawing back from an 18-point hole, OKC fell just short in a 117-114 loss-a Finals rematch that didn’t go their way this time.
Head coach Mark Daigneault didn’t sugarcoat it afterward. “They made plays.
Charles Barkley believes only the Thunder and Nuggets can win the championship pic.twitter.com/Hlq9H4bBvF
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 25, 2026
Credit them. They made enough plays,” he said.
“Zooming out, the lesson is: when you’re in a deficit like that, that’s what a deficit does to you. It really limits your margin for error for the rest of the game.”
Daigneault’s message was clear: the Thunder had a chance, and they let it slip. But with this team’s resilience-and the kind of depth that’s helped them weather multiple injuries-it’s hard to imagine them staying down for long. They’ll get a shot to bounce back Sunday when they host the Raptors.
Bottom line: Barkley may be onto something. The Thunder and Nuggets have both shown they’re built for the long haul. And if they keep this up, we could be in for a Western Conference showdown that lives up to the hype.