The Thunder are just hours from opening their 2026-27 season against the Spurs, and the first glimpse of this roster comes with a few familiar names still driving the show.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren remain the center of everything for OKC. That trio still gives the Thunder the same identity they’ve leaned on for a while now: explosive scoring, tough defense and the kind of versatility that can tilt a game in a hurry.
Behind them, Isaiah Hartenstein is set to keep doing the dirty work in the middle. He brings rebounding, physicality, interior scoring and the kind of passing that helps everything flow around him.
The most notable new face in the starting group is Cason Wallace, who looks positioned to help replace the production left behind by Luguentz Dort. Wallace gives OKC another elite defender on the perimeter, and he arrives fresh off signing a $139 million deal.
The bench is where this rotation gets especially interesting. Alex Caruso remains one of the most trusted defensive weapons on the roster and has been leaned on in big moments during the championship run and after it.
Ajay Mitchell, who already made an impact last season, was singled out by General Manager Sam Presti as someone who could take another step this year. Jared McCain, brought in mid-season last year, is expected to absorb a large share of the 3-point shooting lost in the trades.
The depth doesn’t stop there. Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams both figure to have a role in the frontcourt, giving the Thunder more proven options at the back end of the rotation.
There’s also some preseason intrigue with the rookies. Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz were impressive enough that it would make sense for OKC to see how they handle a real test against San Antonio.
Two talented players, though, don’t appear ready for opening night. Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber have both missed Summer League and preseason, and they won’t be ramped up in time for Day 1.
In Other News...
Spurs Thunder Tension Boils Over On Opening Night
Opening night got chippy in a hurry for Oklahoma City, with the second quarter turning into a full-tilt confrontation between the Thunder and Spurs. It started when De'Aaron Fox shoved Chet Holmgren to the floor, and what followed drew in multiple players, including Victor Wembanyama and several members of the Williams family on the Thunder side, as the officials worked to separate everyone and restore order.
The sequence left both teams waiting on the whistle before play could settle back in, and the officiating crew wound up sorting through a messy scene with a flagrant foul and a handful of technicals. For a Thunder team trying to set the tone early in the season, the dustup added another layer of edge to a matchup that was already carrying plenty of opening-night energy. [Read more 🡒]
Aday Mara Just Gave Thunder Fans A First Real Reason To Believe
Aday Mara did not need long to make an impression in his first Thunder action of the 2026 NBA season opener. The rookie center, taken No. 12 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, fit right into a frontcourt rotation that already includes Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, and he found a way to stand out in a game against San Antonio by making his presence felt around the basket.
Midway through the third quarter, with Oklahoma City already in control, Mara helped deliver one of the nights best sequences. He swatted Victor Wembanyama near the rim, then turned around and finished an alley-oop from Ajay Mitchell, a burst of rim protection and finishing touch that gave Thunder fans a real glimpse of why the organization is so intrigued by him. [Read more 🡒]
Chet Holmgren Sparks Early Thunder Spurs Tension On Opening Night
Opening night between the Thunder and Spurs took a sharp turn when Chet Holmgren found himself on the floor after a hard sequence involving DeAaron Fox, and both benches quickly emptied in response. What had been an early-season showcase between two teams with plenty of buzz became a chippy, physical scene in a hurry, with the officials moving in to calm things down before play could continue.
Once order was restored, the game resumed with San Antonio still chasing Oklahoma City in the second quarter. The incident added an edge to a matchup already rich with intrigue, especially with Victor Wembanyama on the floor and the Thunders young core right in the middle of the fray, a reminder that this rivalry may not need much time to boil over again. [Read more 🡒]