The Thunder have spent the last few years climbing fast, and that ascent has put them in a tricky spot. Oklahoma City went from a 40-42 Play-In team in 2022-23 to a 57-win No. 1 seed in the West the next season, then followed that with a 64-win championship run in 2024-25. Most recently, the club won 62 games before falling in the Western Conference Finals.
That kind of success creates a new kind of problem: how do you get better after consecutive 60-win seasons?
There are reasons to think the Thunder still have room to grow, even after trading away Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort following the 2025-26 campaign. The biggest internal swing factor is Chet Holmgren.
He’s coming off his best NBA season, one that earned him All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense honors, but his Western Conference Finals performance left something to be desired. Holmgren finished Game 7 with four points, and more from him would give Oklahoma City a real lift, especially on offense.
At 24 years old, the former No. 2 overall pick still looks like a player with more development ahead of him. The Thunder would benefit if he speeds up his perimeter shot release and keeps becoming more aggressive on both ends.
There’s also more growth possible from other young players already in the system, including Ajay Mitchell.
And then there’s the incoming wave. Oklahoma City is likely to work 2026 first-round picks Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz into the rotation, while 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber has yet to play for the team and could become another useful frontcourt option. Mara’s size and Stirtz’s shooting stand out as traits that could help right away, even if most rookies don’t make a major impact on a team this established.
If Sorber, Mara and Stirtz can give the Thunder real minutes early, Oklahoma City may be able to patch the holes left by last offseason’s departures and keep the roster as deep as ever.
In Other News...
SGAs Father Defends The Thunder Star Fans Love To Debate
Vaughn Alexander is not shy about defending the style that has made his son one of the NBAs most debated stars. The father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently spoke up in support of the Thunder guards approach, making the case for a game built on getting downhill, drawing contact and living at the line rather than chasing the kind of high-volume three-point diet that has come to define so much of the league.
For Oklahoma City, it is also part of the formula that helped fuel a breakthrough season. Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP after averaging 31.1 points per game and taking 9.0 free throws per game while shooting 87.9 percent from the stripe, a profile that has driven plenty of conversation around how he scores and why it works. The debate never really goes away, but the Thunder keep benefiting from a player who keeps forcing defenses to pay for every step toward the rim. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder May Have A Frontcourt Piece Fans Are Overlooking
The Thunders rookie class is drawing most of the summer attention, but Thomas Sorber is the kind of frontcourt addition that can quietly change the conversation once camp opens. The 2025 first-round pick is finally on track for his NBA debut after sitting out his first year with an ACL injury, and Oklahoma Citys roster churn has only made the path a little more interesting. In a system that values length, mobility and interchangeable defenders, Sorber gives the Thunder another young big worth tracking beyond the usual headlines.
What makes the situation worth watching is the blend of readiness and uncertainty around his role. Sorbers recovery is moving in the right direction for training camp, and his appeal goes beyond just being another body in the paint, with defensive versatility and possible offensive upside both part of his profile. Oklahoma City has plenty of options in the frontcourt, which means the competition for minutes will be real, but it also means Sorber could be one of the more intriguing pieces in the mix if he shows he is ready to hold his own. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Just Reminded Thunder Fans What OKC Is Missing
Jalen Williams spent much of last season on the sideline, a frustrating follow-up to the breakout year that helped push the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship. Injuries never really let him settle in, with two wrist surgeries and multiple hamstring strains limiting him to 33 regular-season games and just two full playoff games, a reminder of how much his presence matters when he is actually on the floor.
Even with the lost time, the expectation inside OKC remains the same: Williams is a cornerstone piece, and the Thunder are counting on him to get back to the form that brought All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defense recognition. If he does, it changes the ceiling for a team that already knows what a healthy, high-level Williams can mean in a championship chase, especially with 2026-27 circled as the next big window. [Read more 🡒]