{"id":146,"date":"2026-10-19T10:27:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T08:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/en\/?p=146"},"modified":"2026-10-27T06:47:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T06:47:13","slug":"nba-preview-2026-27-oklahoma-city-thunder-dynasty-on-the-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/en\/nba-preview-2026-27-oklahoma-city-thunder-dynasty-on-the-line\/","title":{"rendered":"2026-27 NBA Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder | The dynasty on the line"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Building a dynasty takes more than one ring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It sounds obvious, but a year ago, after slipping on the middle finger, we were already setting the second ring on the ring finger of the Oklahoma City Thunder. A decision with a margin of error, we thought, about the thickness of a saffron thread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The champions had the youngest rotation in the NBA<\/strong><\/a>, their best player had just won the MVP, the bench never ran out, and Sam Presti had enough first-round picks to organise a Draft from his living room. What could possibly stop them from repeating the glory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something so obvious we often leave it out: their rivals also play and reload to get better every summer. And in one of them there was \u2013 even among the unicorns \u2013 an anomaly of 2.24 metres ready to be their deadly Beleforonte. The Spurs and Wemby put a lock on the two-peat<\/em> in the Conference Finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here we are, a month later! The Thunder once again close out our previews (we hope you’ve kept up with the previous 29) as the team with the best record in the last regular season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this time the trophy went to New York. And San Antonio has reasons to feel ahead of, or at least neck and neck with, Oklahoma. The superiority that seemed destined to last a decade needs to rethink its message to shore up its candidacy and confirm that they are still the outright favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data, results from last campaign, a look at their 2026-27 squad, the goals for the season \u2013 which can only be the Larry O’Brien \u2013 the player to watch and a prediction for the franchise. Final stop. No more previews; let the ball bounce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How they approach the season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

64-18, the best record in the NBA and two sweeps to open the playoffs. Phoenix and the Lakers left without winning a game. Up to that point, the course was exactly as charted in the preseason coordinates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came San Antonio, with just two fewer regular-season wins, and they took game seven in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As deep as their squad was, injuries played their part in the explanation. Jalen Williams, a key piece in OKC’s previous success, barely managed 33 regular-season games, and neither he nor Ajay Mitchell was available for that decisive duel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s also worth remembering the 1-4 record against the Spurs during the regular season… the trembling had started earlier. A rival who could challenge them for size \u2013 aired any debate over whether Wemby or Chet<\/a> \u2013 survive their suffocating pressure and come out on top without shying away from the head-on clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/articulos\/wembanyama-vs-holmgren-una-rivalidad-de-epoca-antes-de-tiempo\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Daigneault, aware that the level has risen markedly in both the West and the East, will face this season with two simultaneous goals: charting a path that ensures, within the vagaries of chance, the healthiest version of his best players when the playoffs arrive, and finding answers that don’t depend solely on that to threats like a Spurs side that repeats with the force of a cyclone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Departures and arrivals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

And he will have to do it without Lu Dort, without Aaron Wiggins and without Isaiah Joe<\/strong>. The first two left for Atlanta and the third for Detroit. So out go defence, shooting and a familiarity with the system that had been built for years in an extraordinarily natural way. In return come second-round picks, room under the cap and minutes for those waiting in the wings and for those arriving via the Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two names, picks 12 and 16 and rivers of hope with Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz<\/strong>. Isaiah Hartenstein stays on for three years and 75.5 million; Kenrich Williams is also staying. There have been no star signings, and none were needed. They have an MVP as conductor, a philosophy drawn from the fiercest Heat defensive culture and more than enough depth to keep boasting one of the richest rosters in the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam Presti sat back, and the Thunder are still deep in an abundant phase of collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a while, Oklahoma enjoyed an almost obscene combination: players performing like stars while still being paid like prospects, thanks to a superb double act of deals and scouting. But that’s over. Now come the extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, and Shai’s salary will rise again when his own kicks in in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The squad could not be kept intact at the same price, and the current salary rules \u2013 with the second apron always lurking \u2013 no longer allow the excesses of old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence the sacrifices\u2026 Dort, an elite defender, Joe, an elite shooter, and Wiggins, an elite reserve. Which arm would you cut off without it hurting?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, they keep Hartenstein. Perhaps, had they been able to backtrack after seeing the preseason Aday Mara put together, they would not have. But having surplus is never really a surplus. His rebounding strength, his blocks, his endless tank of energy and his ability to keep the attack flowing are always a safeguard for the Thunder’s paint. With him, Holmgren plays without a leash and with a couple of notches less on his belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Squires for SGA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 55.3% from the field and his second consecutive MVP.<\/strong> At this stage it is hard to find a new way of explaining how extraordinary Gilgeous-Alexander is without it sounding like we’re copying last year’s paragraph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His dominance has something maddening for those who suffer it. It is inevitable. Just as interesting will be seeing how he adapts to a rulebook that will no longer play so blatantly in his favour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primera de mil acciones \u201cpol\u00e9micas\u201d de Shai que van a inundar las redes cada ma\u00f1ana de los pr\u00f3ximos 9 meses\n\nY fijaos que de todos los push con el antebrazo, este parece el menos castigable https:\/\/t.co\/aPuaicDTEO<\/p>— nbamaniacs (@nbamaniacs) October 14, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n