Oklahoma City keeps stacking talent, and that makes the Thunder’s ceiling conversation a fun one. With the roster shakeup this offseason opening more minutes and more room for growth, a handful of players are in position to make real jumps next year. The stars will still be the stars, but the bigger question is which others can crash into that same tier.
At the top of the list, there was never much suspense. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the back-to-back MVP and is back to push for something even rarer: becoming the fourth-ever player to win three Most Valuable Player Awards in a row.
He’ll draw the full weight of opposing game plans again, but the source of Oklahoma City’s ceiling still starts with him. He remains the clear best player on the roster, and possibly in the league.
Just behind him, Jalen Williams is lined up for what could be a major bounce-back season. Injuries kept him out for most of last year, but the expectation is that he returns looking like the dominant guard he’s been at his best. With more attention shifting toward another Thunder superstar, Williams has a path to put together a huge year and get back to his All-NBA level.
Chet Holmgren sits in the next tier, though his upside is still enormous. He took a huge step last season, even if his postseason work ended up overshadowing that leap.
This year is about taking another one and forcing his way from rising star into full-blown NBA star territory. The tools are there; the execution is what comes next.
Then there’s Cason Wallace, who is projected to slide into the starting lineup spot opened when Lu Dort was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Wallace already made the All-NBA Defensive Second Team last season, and now the focus shifts to tightening up the offensive side. His deep range shot looked dialed in during the postseason, and if that carries over, he should have no problem holding onto that starting job.
And finally, there’s Ajay Mitchell, who has become one of the loudest names in Oklahoma City’s outlook for the coming season. He’s expected to make another breakout leap and is on the verge of becoming a star in the NBA.
Mitchell should get the chance to run the second unit, and there’s even a Sixth Man of the Year path in play. For a team with big ambitions, his rise could end up being a major part of the story.
In Other News...
Kevin Durants Westbrook Reaction Will Hit Thunder Fans Hard
Russell Westbrooks retirement after 18 NBA seasons closed the book on one of the leagues most influential careers, and for Thunder fans it also reopened memories of the Oklahoma City core that once carried the franchise to the center of the basketball conversation. A former MVP and perennial All-Star, Westbrook changed the way the game viewed the triple-double and spent years as the relentless engine of a Thunder era defined by speed, force and unwavering competitiveness.
Kevin Durants reaction only adds another layer to that history. As Westbrooks former teammate in Oklahoma City, Durant praised his work ethic and acknowledged the bond they built while leading the Thunder, but he also made clear he believed Westbrook still had something left in the tank before choosing to walk away. For a fan base that watched both stars shape the franchises rise, hearing Durant talk about Westbrook this way will land with extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Has One Big Job In OKCs Title Push
Jalen Williams 2025-26 season never really got the chance to settle into rhythm. Injuries limited him to 33 games, and his scoring dipped to its lowest level since his rookie year, a steep step back for a player the Thunder have counted on as part of their title core. The issues were more than just a cold shooting stretch, too, as the missed time and physical setbacks made it hard for him to look like the same two-way force Oklahoma City had leaned on.
The encouraging part for the Thunder is that Williams is expected to come back closer to form in 2026-27, with an offseason focus on getting his body and game right again. He has also been working with the trainer who helps guide Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a sign that Oklahoma City is treating his recovery and next step with real intent. For a team pushing toward another championship run, Williams does not need to become a different player. He just needs to become himself again. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Title Defense Could Come Down To One Lineup Decision
The Thunder go into 2026-27 in the rare place of trying to defend a title while still being treated like a co-favorite, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams all back at the center of it. Around that core, though, coach Mark Daigneault is staring at a roster puzzle that feels bigger than most teams depth-chart debates because the offseason trades changed the shape of the group and left Oklahoma City weighing how best to cover every phase of a game.
The biggest question may not be who starts so much as how the Thunder want to finish and where the shooting comes from when the lineup tightens. Daigneault has options with the returning pieces and the newcomers, but the choices will say a lot about whether Oklahoma City wants maximum spacing, more defense or simply the best blend of trust and versatility when the games get louder in the spring. [Read more 🡒]