LeBron James isn’t ready to let anyone move past Oklahoma City.
On a recent episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, James pushed back on the idea that the Thunder should be overlooked after last season’s finish. His message was simple: don’t rush to dismiss a team that already showed it can win at the highest level.
"I think it's very important that we - as fans of the game and the casuals - don't write off OKC just yet," James said. "You're so intrigued with, obviously, Victor and rightfully so.
What they bring to the table and obviously, the young guys. Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.
You love what they bring to the game. I love watching those guys.
They're unbelievable. But we're quick to turn the page a lot faster than when we should."
The Thunder had just won the 2025 NBA championship, then fell five wins short of repeating. Their 2026 run ended in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, who beat them in an epic seven-game series.
Oklahoma City was also dealing with injuries, with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell missing most of that matchup. Williams, especially, went through an injury-riddled season that eventually caught up with the team.
James also had a front-row view of what Oklahoma City can do. The Thunder swept his Los Angeles Lakers in Round 2, and that turned out to be his final series in purple and gold before he joined the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason. A 2027 NBA Finals meeting between the Thunder and 76ers is at least on the table.
Even with James framing it like a bold warning, the reality is the Thunder are already seen that way around the league. They’re widely considered a co-favorite for the 2026-27 title alongside the Spurs.
That starts with the core. As long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are healthy, Oklahoma City will be in the championship mix. It’s a group that blends a two-time MVP at his peak with two ascending All-NBA-level talents, and James clearly thinks the league is still underestimating what that can become.
"I hope we do not turn the page too fast on OKC. They got too much talent.
They got too much experience," James said. "They were hungry last and injuries always can affect some things.
We always talk about the most important is being healthy. If those guys are healthy, they'll be right there."
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