Thunder Chases a Golden Echo: Can OKC Defend the NBA Crown?
20 October 2025
Season Outlook
Oklahoma City Thunder, champions of the previous season, enter the new campaign among the early favorites to defend the title, despite not adding fresh faces to the core like some rivals did.
They hope to become the first team to repeat as NBA champions since the Golden State Warriors under Stephen Curry in 2017-2018.
The Thunder’s star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was the league MVP last season, has a clear message for the team: there’s time to relish the championship, but the objective remains winning again in 2026.
The Thunder clinched the title with a dramatic 4-3 Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers, a series highlighted by Gilgeous-Alexander, who posted strong numbers throughout the season and the playoffs.
To reach that goal, the group intends to improve daily and elevate their effort in every moment and on every front.
Teammate Jalen Williams adds that while many talk about defending the throne, the plan is to play an aggressive offensive style with enhanced resolve each year.
They emphasize that the quest isn’t about contracts, but about excellence and carving a place in the franchise’s history.
The Thunder will raise their banner at home on Tuesday, hosting the Houston Rockets and their star, Kevin Durant, while the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors elsewhere on the schedule.
Modest adjustments
Under head coach Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City has made only modest changes to the lineup, keeping the core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Holmgren, Hartstein, and Caruso intact.
Alex Caruso, who won a title with the Lakers in 2020, notes that success now demands smarter responsibility and a mature approach to maintaining championship status.
In a survey of 30 coaches, 24 predicted the Thunder would again lift the trophy, underscoring the respect they command around the league.
Behind OKC in the West, the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic stand as major threats, with the Houston Rockets, and the Cavaliers led by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in the East, and the Knicks with their new coach Mike Brown following closely behind.
Yet even last year’s sympathizers, like Boston Celtics, faced setbacks—such as injuries to their top star—reminding everyone that health remains a critical factor in a long season.
Apart from injuries, the Thunder must navigate the league’s intricate salary-cap framework, where cap flexibility can trigger penalties as teams rise in spending. The front office, led by Sam Presti, has managed talent well at favorable prices, allowing the team to approach the season calmly with minimal blockbuster moves.
The horizon hints at a major project in the next transfer window: extending the contracts of the trio Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Holmgren, whose value skyrocketed after the title and will push their salaries higher from 2026-27 onward.
Foreseeably, Gilgeous-Alexander’s pay packet will be enormous by 2027, yet the team’s focus remains on defending the crown with the current lineup through June’s championship run.
Before contemplating an extension for the 27-year-old star, Oklahoma City must focus on defending their title with the same roster that delivered the victory last June.
Bang—back-to-back ambitions are on the horizon; bang—the calendar will tell if OKC can pull off a historic repeat. And if the tank is full of confidence, the only thing louder than the cheers might be the coach’s clipboard clattering as another season begins with a sharp aim at the championship belt.
