Can Oklahoma’s major professional sports team rebound from its Western Conference Finals defeat?
For much of the 2025-26 National Basketball Association season, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked poised to repeat history and become the first NBA team since 2018 to win back-to-back championships. In the regular season, the team won its first seven games, went on a 16-game win streak and ended with a league-high 64-18 record. They swept the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but their impressive season ended when an injury-rattled Thunder team fell to the San Antonio Spurs in a grueling seven game series.
After the end of the season, fans had concerns for the future of the franchise. Many were disappointed with forward Chet Holmgren’s performance in the Western Conference Finals, but second-year finance major and longtime Thunder fan George Leydorf still has faith in the core of the team. “It may not be the best big three in the league,” he said, “but it is absolutely good enough to win a championship.” With Holmgren and guard Jalen Williams — who had been on four year rookie-scale contracts worth about $40 million and $20 million respectively — taking five-year maximum rookie extensions worth over $239 million each, the front office needed to reduce payroll spending to avoid the second apron, prompting speculation about trades.
Ultimately, the Thunder were forced to let go of seven-year veteran and NBA All-Defensive First Team guard Luguentz Dort in a three-team trade, sending Dort to the Atlanta Hawks for three second-round picks. The team also traded guard Isaiah Joe and wing Aaron Wiggins to the Detroit Pistons and Hawks respectively for two second-round picks each. Leydorf said these moves “are not super key,” noting that these three took a backseat in last year’s playoff run. Longtime fan and University of Tulsa class of 2026 alumnus Daniel Geary said “there will be a learning period for sure” as the team responds to their absence, but “more people will step up to the plate and our depth will be better than people think.”
Despite their losses, the Thunder’s roster still features incredible depth and championship potential. In the first game of the WCF series, guard Alex Caruso shot 57% from behind the three point line, scoring 31 points in the double-overtime loss. Guards Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain stepped up after Williams’ injury induced exit in game two, with McCain averaging 13.1 points per game in the series, mostly off the bench. Leydorf is not too concerned about the team’s playoff capacity, stating that “while Dort’s departure might hurt, there is not much to do to fill the gap in the playoffs.”
To further bring the salary cap down while retaining talent, the Thunder declined center Isaiah Hartenstein and veteran forward Kenrich Williams’ team options, signing Hartenstein to a three-year, $75 million extension and Williams to a one-year, $5 million extension. Geary and Leydorf were happy with these moves, with Geary remarking “we need a veteran big” and Leydorf calling Hartenstein a “key piece in the playoffs; the Spurs had to change to accommodate Hart’s floater shot.” These moves put OKC a few million dollars shy of the second apron, giving the team flexibility in trades and avoiding a punishing luxury tax.
With the 12th pick in the 2026 draft via the Los Angeles Clippers from the infamous Paul George trade, the Thunder drafted 7-foot-3-inch, 260-pound Michigan center Aday Mara, who Leydorf says fills a team need for “big men with size.” This move may also be the team’s answer to Victor Wembanyama, who caused significant problems for the Thunder in the WCF. OKC also added Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz with the 16th pick and guards Otega Oweh and Ryan Conwell in the second round. Geary was less excited about these moves, saying, “I don’t feel like they’re game changers or anything.”
While there are still some lingering questions for this Thunder squad, they look promising coming into the 2026 season. All-Star Holmgren, who averaged 17.1 points per game last year but was a non-factor in the WCF, is unfortunately seen by some as a liability; “Chet’s a toothpick,” said Geary, and Leydorf suggested the team “get Chet Holmgren a better trainer.” The Thunder’s defense will also seek to maintain its league-leading 107.1 defensive rating without Dort in the lineup, which is a tall order. Overall, though, general manager Sam Presti has threaded the needle through this offseason, avoiding the second apron while retaining the lion’s share of the team’s depth and bringing in exciting, if untested, talent in the draft. Leydorf says the championship window “has certainly not passed,” though Geary worries that “it’s gotten significantly more slim.” Nevertheless, Geary gives the Thunder’s offseason an “A-plus” grade and Leydorf gives it an “A-minus.” Given the salary situation and Presti’s keen eye for talent in the draft, it is hard to imagine the Thunder offseason having gone much differently, and it is hard to be pessimistic about this team.
The Thunder will begin the season in Tulsa with a preseason matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 6 at the BOK Center. Their first regular season game will be a Western Conference Finals rematch against the Spurs in San Antonio on Oct. 20, and the Thunder will host the Denver Nuggets for their home debut on the 22nd.
