The Thunder’s path to three All-Stars in 2027 looks clearer than it has in a while.
Oklahoma City is coming off an offseason that changed the shape of its supporting cast, with Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins among the regular season contributors heading out the door. That opens up more minutes for young talent already on the roster, and it also changes the way the Thunder may have to win next season.
That’s where the star power comes in. With the team’s depth taking a slight hit, Oklahoma City may need its top players to carry even more of the load to keep stacking wins and remain near the top of the Western Conference. That could set up the Thunder’s best shot yet at sending three players to the All-Star Game.
The format keeps shifting, but the basic math does not: each conference still sends 12 players. For the Thunder to land three selections, they would need roughly a quarter of the West’s spots. That is a steep ask, even if injury replacements open the door a little wider, but Oklahoma City has a real chance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the easiest name to pencil in. As the reigning two-time MVP, his All-Star place is close to automatic as long as he stays healthy. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren also have a strong case, especially since each earned All-Star recognition in their most recent healthy seasons, even if they did not spend much of that stretch on the floor together.
That part matters. With the roster now built a little differently, Williams and Holmgren should have room to thrive alongside each other.
On some nights, either one could be the clear second option. Williams will likely need a little more offensive buzz to get back in, while Holmgren can lean on his defensive value, especially if the Thunder’s defense again ends up looking like the best in the league.
The rest of the league’s offseason only helps Oklahoma City’s case. Most of the star movement went East, or kept stars in the East, which may make the West’s All-Star race a little less crowded than usual.
If the Thunder keep rolling next season and Williams and Holmgren get the spotlight early, both should have a real path to joining Gilgeous-Alexander. If that happens, Oklahoma City could be headed to 2027 with three All-Stars.
In Other News...
Thunder Front Office Faces Its Next Big Test While Still Setting The Standard
The Thunder keep drawing praise for the way theyve handled the roster they built around their young core, balancing ambitious moves with the kind of financial discipline that has become part of the organizations identity. Retaining key players has been a point of emphasis, and re-signing center Isaiah Hartenstein stood out as another sign that Oklahoma City is determined to keep its foundation intact even while operating under tight constraints.
Now comes the next layer of the challenge. With contract extension decisions approaching for players such as Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell, the front office will have to keep threading the needle between present value and future flexibility. Oklahoma City has set a standard for sharp roster management, but the real test is whether it can continue making those calls without disrupting the long-term plan that has made the Thunder so hard to outmaneuver. [Read more 🡒]
Jared McCain Could Be The Key To OKC's Dangerous New Look
With Oklahoma Citys core still built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams heading toward the 2026-27 season, the Thunder are staring at a familiar kind of problem for a team with real ambition: how to keep the top end intact while reshaping the edges around it. The departures of Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe have already thinned out some of the old rotation patterns, which means Mark Daigneault has room to sort through new backcourt combinations and decide whether Ajay Mitchell or Cason Wallace fits best alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.
That is where Jared McCain starts to look especially interesting. If his shooting keeps coming along, he can help Oklahoma City widen the floor, but the more valuable step may be what he becomes as a passer and connective piece. The Thunder do not need another one-note guard so much as a player who can make the game easier for the people around him, and if McCain grows into that role, he could give this roster a different kind of danger without forcing anyone out of place. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Schedule Puts OKC In Contender Spotlight Again
The NBAs newly released 2026-27 schedule reinforces just how firmly the Thunder have moved into the leagues top tier. Oklahoma City landed 30 nationally televised games, fifth-most in the NBA, another sign that the defending contender is expected to spend the season under a brighter spotlight with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams leading the way.
The national attention comes with a demanding calendar, too, as the Thunder will have to navigate several back-to-back stretches that can test a deep roster over the grind of a long season. For a team already being treated like a co-title favorite, the schedule sets up plenty of premium matchups and a chance to prove the hype is justified, even if the real measuring stick wont be clear until the spring. [Read more 🡒]