The Oklahoma City Thunder get one last swing in the 2026 NBA Summer League on Sunday afternoon, and this one comes without any of their three 2026 draftees in the lineup against the Brooklyn Nets.
OKC has yet to break through in the midsummer event, going 0-7 across stops in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Even so, there are still a few names worth watching in the finale before the NBA offseason settles into its quiet stretch.
Brooks Barnhizer and Josh Dix, two of OKC’s three players on two-way contracts, are expected to be active. Barnhizer has taken on a bigger role and made the most of it, while Dix is trying to finish on a high note after a mixed start to his first pro summer.
Barnhizer has put up 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game over seven contests. The production has come with some rough edges, though, as he’s shooting 41.1% overall and 25% from 3-point range. In Las Vegas, that long-range number has dipped to 16.7%.
The Northwestern product has kept finding ways to score through effort and activity, and his defensive tools have shown up along the way. The shot, though, remains the piece that has to come around if he’s going to stick at the highest level.
Dix has been quieter, but his debut summer has still been solid. The Iowa and Creighton product is averaging 8.4 points per game while shooting 44.4% from the field and 39.4% from deep.
After a slow opening in Salt Lake City, Dix has found his rhythm in Vegas. He’s scored in double figures in back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, and he’ll be aiming for three straight against Brooklyn.
The Nets will not make this easy. They’re 4-3 across the California Classic and Las Vegas NBA Summer Leagues, and they bring a summer roster loaded with young NBA experience. By comparison, Oklahoma City has just three players in this summer group who appeared for its NBA roster in 2025-26.
The Thunder have been close in their last two outings, falling by 10 to Dallas and by three to Denver. In the finale, they’ll try to do something they haven’t done yet in Vegas: hold a lead past halftime.
A first win is still within reach, even if the Thunder enter again as underdogs.
There are a couple more familiar names to keep an eye on, too. Payton Sandfort and Buddy Boeheim, both occasional members of the 2025-26 OKC Thunder, have turned in strong showings in Las Vegas and should be back in action Sunday.
Sandfort has averaged 13 points and 3.8 rebounds over four appearances in Vegas while shooting 43.8% from the floor. Boeheim, after playing just one game in Salt Lake City, is averaging 9.2 points in Vegas and has knocked down 38.1% of his 3-point attempts.
For Sandfort, Boeheim and the rest of the Summer Thunder, the clock is ticking. This is the last in-game chance to make a case for a training camp spot.
In Other News...
Another NBA Team Is Suddenly Looking To OKC For Answers
As Portland and city officials work through a 20-year lease proposal tied to a major Moda Center renovation, the relationship has entered a familiar but delicate phase: lots of money on the table, plenty of public scrutiny, and no shortage of friction over the details. The citys plan includes public funding and a long-term commitment to keep the building in place, while the Blazers have pushed back on key terms as both sides try to keep the talks from stalling out completely.
What makes this especially interesting from an Oklahoma City perspective is where Portland has been looking for comparisons. The Blazers have reportedly studied recent arena deals in places like Oklahoma City and Utah as they weigh their next move, a reminder that the Thunders market has become part of the leagues playbook when teams and cities start negotiating over the future of an arena. For now, the question is whether Portland can bridge its differences at home or whether the search for alternatives keeps widening. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Presti Just Added Even More To OKC's Draft Pick Empire
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For a team built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, the appeal is obvious: more ways to stay young, flexible and aggressive when the next opportunity comes along. Some of those selections are tied up in protections and conditions, which makes the full picture a little messy, but the broader message is clear enough. The Thunder are not just collecting picks, they are stockpiling options. [Read more 🡒]
Aday Mara Is Making OKCs Frontcourt Decision A Lot Harder
Aday Mara has already made a case for himself in a Thunder frontcourt that was supposed to be crowded before he even arrived. The 7-foot-3 draft pick showed enough in Summer League to turn heads, blending efficient scoring with real defensive presence while giving Oklahoma City another big body to evaluate behind Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.
Maras feel for the game may be the part that stands out most. He averaged 1.8 blocks and 3.2 assists in Summer League, numbers that hint at a center who can protect the rim and keep the ball moving instead of simply occupying space in the lane. For a team that likes versatility and depth, that kind of showing only makes the upcoming rotation conversation more interesting. [Read more 🡒]