Nothing has been easy for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the years. We’ve seen how the team was struggling to win a championship since moving into Oklahoma, and their competitive level was unwavering, too. After winning a title last season, it seems that they are now rising with more championship aspirations. OKC had a bit of a disaster to finish December, but will there be big expectations for their upcoming games in 2026?
As far as the rest of the league is concerned, the Thunder remains the team to beat. We’ve seen how they’ve set the standard on defense and even in bench power. We’re even seeing a glimpse of what can be the first back-to-back MVP campaign for a guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This is just a mere shell of what Oklahoma City is headed for — greatness.
What Should Fans Expect From OKC This 2026?
Oklahoma City is filled with loving fans who are feeling the thrill of having a great team. It’s been a long time since the state got a taste of a major league championship. So having a championship team like the Thunder is a blessing to them. Now that they may be gunning for a dynasty, fans are expecting bigger changes and some storylines to begin 2026.
The Thunder are finally breathing life into what was a worrisome finish to 2025. Those losses to the Spurs were definitely a wake-up call, but now Oklahoma City is ready to focus on what matters.
A Resurgence for the Thunder
After losing once in November, the defending champs took a hit in December. The Thunder were handed four losses in that stretch. Sure, they still have the top seed in the West and the best record in the NBA. In hindsight, this is a problem worth solving for Oklahoma City. After all, they can’t win all the games or even finish the predicted 77-5 record in 2026, but it’s worth noting that there’s still a lot to improve.
RARE AIR FOR OKC: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder can become the third franchise to start 30-5 or better in consecutive seasons with a victory against the Golden State Warriors tonight at 10:00pm/et on Prime. If OKC extends their winning streak to four, they… pic.twitter.com/eFJxWYoXzJ
— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2026
For what it’s worth, we know how they have gone from being a lowly team to becoming a defensive juggernaut. The Oklahoma City Thunder are a sure-fire defensive team, and in 2026, that’s starting to become better. They were struggling to show that in games against the San Antonio Spurs. However, this is an 82-game season, meaning there’s room for improvement as well.
A Continued Growth for the Big Three
At this point, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is gunning for a back-to-back MVP finish. Chet Holmgren is showing that he’s also capable of becoming a star-level player. Then there’s Jalen Williams, finally coming back from his surgery and getting back to his form.
The Thunder big three are a promising trio, yes. No one can deny that right now, not after they just won a title. However, it’s worth noting that they are still young. The trio earned massive extensions, with SGA landing one of the biggest deals in league history. However, there’s more to expect as they are together for years to come, set to be playing for more titles that Oklahoma fans would love.
Right now, Gilgeous-Alexander remains consistent. Holmgren is on a promising stretch that would actually prove his case for the DPOY this year. J-Dub, on the other hand, is expecting to get back to his original high-level play and explosive game for OKC. Right now, it seems that they’re on the right track.
An Improved Bench Power
Remember when the league saw a promising bench in the Thunder? Well, that’s still the case right now, except for a few hiccups that are set to be fixed soon. As of the time of writing, the OKC bench isn’t that fearsome a bunch anymore. They only rank seventh in total bench points this season at 1,364. To be fair, it isn’t all about scoring, sure, but there are a whole lot more in that regard.
For starters, OKC still holds the best defensive rating by a team off the bench. That’s just an understatement, considering that they won a championship with defense. Guys like Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell (who’s on a promising rise this year), Aaron Wiggins, and even Cason Wallace boast a strong defensive front for the defending champs. Pieces like Ousmane Dieng, however, may be due for a trade to other teams.
When it’s all said and done, expect the Thunder to come up with a strong front on defense. After setting one of the best records on win differential, it’s hard to expect anything new but more improvements for Oklahoma City at this point in 2026.
Is There Another Championship in the Making?
Overall, the biggest expectation for OKC is to come up with another title. We all know that’s the grandest goal for every single team in the NBA. Now more than ever, Oklahoma City is poised to finish with the first back-to-back titles since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Another championship would ensure the Thunder’s place in conversations as one of the best dynasties in the league.
That’s a chance that OKC is definitely hopeful to achieve. With a new arena coming soon, an extended period of success could elevate not just the Thunder’s reputation as a new NBA royalty, but also as a booming city. After all, giving Oklahoma City a bigger market is sure to bring more success in the franchise as well.
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