The Oklahoma City Thunder are doing more than just defending their NBA title - they’re building something that could define the next era of basketball. With a 20-1 start to the season and a roster that’s not only elite but incredibly young, OKC isn’t just winning now - they’re winning with a future in mind.
And that future? It’s looking downright scary for the rest of the league.
Let’s start with the core. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, continues to play like the best guard in the league.
Flanking him is Jalen Williams, already an All-Star and still climbing, and Chet Holmgren, who’s proving that the modern big man can protect the rim and stretch the floor. All three are locked in through 2030.
That’s not a typo - 2030. That kind of roster security is rare in today’s NBA, especially when it involves All-NBA-level talent across multiple positions.
And it’s not like they’re just squeaking by. This team is 20-1 - one of only four teams in league history to start this strong - and they’re doing it as defending champs.
The only other defending champion to start 20-1 or better? The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who went on to win 73 games.
That’s the kind of company OKC is keeping right now.
But what really sets the Thunder apart isn’t just the talent on the court - it’s what’s coming next. Thanks to a series of savvy trades over the past few years, Oklahoma City is sitting on a treasure chest of draft capital. And the crown jewel might be what’s shaping up in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Back in 2019, the Thunder traded Paul George to the Clippers in a blockbuster deal that brought Gilgeous-Alexander to OKC. But the long-term payoff didn’t stop there.
As part of that trade, the Thunder own the Clippers’ unprotected right to swap picks with the Houston Rockets in 2026. With the Clippers stumbling to a 5-16 start - their worst since the 2010-11 season - that pick is trending toward the lottery.
If LA’s struggles continue, OKC could walk away with a top-3 pick on top of their championship core.
It’s a wild twist of fate. The Clippers made the deal thinking George, alongside Kawhi Leonard, would bring banners to L.A.
And while they’ve had regular season success - fifth-best winning percentage since the trade - the payoff never came. No Finals appearances, and George is now in Philly.
Leonard’s been in and out of the lineup, and the Kawhi-Harden pairing has produced a brutal minus-9.0 net rating in their minutes together. That’s not the kind of stat you want attached to your star duo.
And the Thunder’s draft war chest doesn’t stop there.
They also hold the Utah Jazz’s first-round pick from a 2021 salary dump that sent Derrick Favors to OKC. That pick is top-eight protected, so if the Jazz finish ninth or lower in the draft order, the Thunder cash in again.
Then there’s the 2026 first-rounder from the Philadelphia 76ers, tied to the 2020 Al Horford trade. If that pick falls outside the top four, it’s heading to Oklahoma City. So in one draft, the Thunder could potentially be looking at three first-rounders, including two from playoff hopefuls that are trending in the wrong direction.
And here’s the kicker: the Thunder haven’t exactly been slumming it while waiting on these picks. Over the past four seasons, they’ve posted a .693 win percentage - second only to the Celtics, who’ve made two Finals appearances and lifted one trophy in that span. OKC’s already elite, and they’re still positioned like a rebuilding team with assets galore.
This is the kind of long-term dominance that front offices dream about. A title-winning core that’s still ascending, locked up for the long haul, and a pipeline of future talent that could keep this machine humming for years.
The Thunder aren’t just good - they’re built to be great for the next decade. And if the draft breaks their way in 2026? We might be looking at the NBA’s next dynasty in real time.