Jalen Williams is spending part of the offseason looking back at the moment that defined Oklahoma City’s rise.
With August offering little more than a long wait for the next NBA season, Williams posted a photo on social media of himself watching OKC’s Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. It was a reminder of the Thunder’s championship run, and of the stretch when Williams was at the center of it.
That year, he put together a breakout campaign that earned him first-time All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defense honors. It also came before a brutal injury stretch that wrecked his follow-up season. Williams was limited to 33 regular-season games and only two entire NBA playoff games after dealing with two wrist surgeries and four hamstring strains.
The last time he was fully healthy, the Thunder were lifting the NBA championship.
Now, Oklahoma City is counting on Williams to get back to that level after roster changes reshaped the team around him. His growth into what the source described as a Gen Z Scottie Pippen was a major piece of the Thunder’s climb to the top, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren becoming some of the league’s biggest names.
The Thunder came up five wins short of repeating, and Williams’ injuries ended up hurting OKC in the Western Conference Finals. As the focus shifts toward the 2026-27 season, the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are listed as co-favorites to win the Larry O’Brien.
In Other News...
SGAs Father Defends The Thunder Star Fans Love To Debate
Vaughn Alexander is not shy about defending the style that has made his son one of the NBAs most debated stars. The father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently spoke up in support of the Thunder guards approach, making the case for a game built on getting downhill, drawing contact and living at the line rather than chasing the kind of high-volume three-point diet that has come to define so much of the league.
For Oklahoma City, it is also part of the formula that helped fuel a breakthrough season. Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP after averaging 31.1 points per game and taking 9.0 free throws per game while shooting 87.9 percent from the stripe, a profile that has driven plenty of conversation around how he scores and why it works. The debate never really goes away, but the Thunder keep benefiting from a player who keeps forcing defenses to pay for every step toward the rim. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder May Have A Frontcourt Piece Fans Are Overlooking
The Thunders rookie class is drawing most of the summer attention, but Thomas Sorber is the kind of frontcourt addition that can quietly change the conversation once camp opens. The 2025 first-round pick is finally on track for his NBA debut after sitting out his first year with an ACL injury, and Oklahoma Citys roster churn has only made the path a little more interesting. In a system that values length, mobility and interchangeable defenders, Sorber gives the Thunder another young big worth tracking beyond the usual headlines.
What makes the situation worth watching is the blend of readiness and uncertainty around his role. Sorbers recovery is moving in the right direction for training camp, and his appeal goes beyond just being another body in the paint, with defensive versatility and possible offensive upside both part of his profile. Oklahoma City has plenty of options in the frontcourt, which means the competition for minutes will be real, but it also means Sorber could be one of the more intriguing pieces in the mix if he shows he is ready to hold his own. [Read more 🡒]