The Oklahoma City Thunder have built something that looks made to last.
Even after parting with multiple players this offseason, Oklahoma City still kept most of its core intact and enters the upcoming season with a real chance to win the organization’s second-ever championship. The Thunder also added three rookies in this year’s draft, giving an already young roster even more runway.
That mix of proven talent and fresh upside is a big reason Bleacher Report placed OKC second in its three-year power ranking of every NBA team. The Thunder landed near the top because their best players are either already in their prime or still climbing toward it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams give the Thunder a foundation that doesn’t look close to fading. Holmgren is expected to keep developing into one of the league’s best players, while Williams could take another leap if his health holds up.
The young talent behind them only adds to the appeal. Cason Wallace is already viewed as one of the league’s best defensive guards and is just getting started. Ajay Mitchell also looks like a player who could grow into one of the NBA’s best guards down the line and become a major piece of Oklahoma City’s future.
The only team ranked ahead of the Thunder was the San Antonio Spurs, who were also recognized for their young core led by Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Still, the future has to be earned, not imagined, and Oklahoma City has the experience to push past San Antonio eventually.
For now, the Thunder’s outlook is as strong as anyone’s. The talent is there, the age curve is friendly, and the window looks wide open - but they’ll still have to keep proving it on the floor if they want to stay ahead of the pack.
In Other News...
Thunder Core Gets A Reality Check In New NBA Lineup Ranking
The leagues long view has a way of poking at even the most stable young contenders, and Oklahoma Citys projected future is no exception. In a fresh ranking of the NBAs top starting lineups for the 2026-27 season, the Thunder are part of a short list that also includes the Timberwolves, Knicks, Spurs and 76ers, a reminder that this core is already being measured against some of the deepest talent pools in the sport. These are only projections, of course, but they still say plenty about how the national conversation views the next wave of contenders.
Minnesotas place in that discussion got a boost with Jonathan Kuminga signing a two-year deal there, giving the Timberwolves another piece to weigh in their projected five. For Oklahoma City, the takeaway is less about one ranking and more about the standard it will be chasing as this group matures. The Thunder are still in the conversation among the NBAs most intriguing starting lineups, but the fact that they are being stacked up this early against other loaded teams only raises the pressure on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durants Reaction To Russell Westbrooks Retirement Will Hit Thunder Fans
Russell Westbrooks retirement closed the book on one of the defining careers of the modern NBA, and it naturally brought a reaction from Kevin Durant, his former Thunder teammate and one of the biggest figures from that era. Durant spoke about Westbrooks decision in an interview and made clear he respected the path Westbrook carved across 18 seasons, a run that included an MVP award and a long list of All-Star appearances.
For Thunder fans, the emotional layer goes beyond the rsum. Westbrook and Durant were once at the center of everything in Oklahoma City, and even now, their overlapping legacies still carry real weight for the franchises history. Westbrook had other opportunities on the table before stepping away, which makes the timing of his decision even more striking, and Durants response only adds to the sense that this is a farewell that will linger around the Thunder for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Had A Raw Reaction To Russell Westbrook Retiring
Russell Westbrooks retirement announcement landed with real weight around the league, but it carried extra meaning for anyone who lived through the Oklahoma City Thunders rise with him and Kevin Durant at the center of it. Westbrook spent nearly a decade alongside Durant in Oklahoma City, helping define an era that made the Thunder one of the NBAs most compelling teams and gave fans a partnership they still remember well.
Durant, now trying to push the Houston Rockets back into championship contention after a recent playoff exit, clearly has a lot of history tied to the moment. His response to Westbrook stepping away reflected both the length of their shared run and how unusual it is to see a player who helped shape so much of that Thunder era move on from the game entirely. [Read more 🡒]