After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, Sam Presti and the Thunder organization have been busy. They gave Chet Holmgren a maximum rookie extension. It is a deal that spans five years and can reach up to $250 million. Then, they extended their other All-Star forward, Jalen Williams. Williams signed a contract extension for five years and can earn up to $287 million. Not to mention, they also extended the MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that keeps him in OKC through the 2030-31 season. It’s safe to say that this Thunder team is not going anywhere, and they might not even have reached their full potential. Presti has built a juggernaut of a team that should compete for NBA titles for the next five-plus years. But there are a few adjustments to the roster for next season. What will this mean for fantasy basketball? This article will answer that question. Let’s get into it.
Thunderstruck: The OKC Thunder’s Fantasy Forecast 2025-26
1) Shai, J-Dub, and Chet Will Shine
Although the Thunder are one of the deepest teams in the NBA, the stars of this team carry a heavy load. Don’t expect this to change one bit, as Gilgeous-Alexander will lead the team again. Maybe the counting stats won’t be as great for SGA next season, but he will still be a locked-in top five fantasy player for the 2025-26 season. For Williams, he will be going into his fourth NBA season. He has steadily improved his offensive numbers each year of his career, and I only expect that to continue. J-Dub should be a bit higher in the fantasy landscape as a potential 25-5-5 type of player. For Holmgren, the only concern is health. If he can stay healthy, he will be another top fantasy option for next season.
2) Stay Away From the High-Priced Role Players
As I mentioned before, the Thunder have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Guys like Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, and so many others were a big reason why the Thunder won the NBA Finals. But, I think the playoff run could cloud some people’s judgement. Caruso was so impactful during the playoff run, but the box score doesn’t always reflect that, which is not what we want for fantasy basketball. Hartenstein played 40+ games without Holmgren in the lineup last season. This, along with adding Thomas Sorber is likely going to eat into Hartenstein’s production. Lu Dort is another guy that I would not be comfortable reaching for next season because of the additions like Nikola Topic and a healthy Ajay Mitchell. Overall, this Thunder team is full of great players, just not for fantasy basketball.
The Last Word
By all accounts, this OKC Thunder team is going to have another outstanding season. It is going to be headlined by SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. You will have some other secondary starters like Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, but I would stay away from the Thunder role players for fantasy basketball if you can. If you do end up going with a Thunder role player, shoot for upside. I like the value of Aaron Wiggins, Nikola Topic, and Ajay Mitchell for late draft picks and early waiver additions. All things considered, this team is going to be great for fantasy basketball in the 2025-26 NBA season.
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