Nick Crain

PartnerNC95@RoundtableIO

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Sports Journalist

Nick has been credentialed media across several sports covering multiple teams during his decade in the industry.

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PODCAST: Biggest Thunder Questions Entering Training Camp

Thunder training camp is right around the corner, which means it’s time to dig into some of the biggest questions facing Oklahoma City before the season begins. The conversation starts with Sam Presti’s season-opening press conference and whether anything he said offered a real surprise about the Thunder’s plans, expectations, or approach entering the year. For a team coming off a championship, there may not be sweeping changes, but there are still plenty of details worth examining as OKC prepares for another run. From there, the focus shifts to one of the most important lineup questions on the roster: who becomes the fifth starter? With Lu Dort no longer in the mix, Cason Wallace appears to have a strong opportunity to step into that role, but the guys debate whether he should be considered the favorite or if another option could emerge during camp. The frontcourt rotation is another major topic. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein remain central pieces, but how Oklahoma City divides minutes behind and alongside them could have a major impact on the regular-season rotation. The discussion explores how the Thunder might manage their bigs and where the younger frontcourt players could fit. Finally, the crew looks at which young player has the best chance to force their way into meaningful minutes. Aday Mara, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topic, Bennett Stirtz, and others all enter camp with something to prove, creating one of the more interesting battles to watch. With training camp nearly here, the roster is mostly set, but the roles are not. This episode breaks down the biggest decisions still facing Oklahoma City before the season gets underway.Sep 29, 2026

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TC Roster Takeaways?

Does anything stand out?Sep 28, 2026

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Mara or Sorber?

Which rookie has a better season?Sep 26, 2026

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PODCAST: Uncovering Potential Scenarios for the Thunder's Upcoming Season

On this episode, we give our take on how much we actually believe in each of our biggest Thunder predictions heading into the new season. We’re putting our convictions to the test with a snake draft of 15 Oklahoma City Thunder beliefs and deciding which ones we’re willing to bet on. Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finish top 2 in MVP voting? Does Jalen Williams make an All-NBA team? Is Cason Wallace the set-in-stone starter following Lu Dort’s departure? Could OKC finish #1 in defensive rating AND top 5 in offensive rating? And will the Thunder make the Western Conference Finals for a third straight season? We also debate some of the more intriguing predictions: three Thunder bench players averaging double-digit points, five players making 100+ threes, Nikola Topic leading the rookie group in games and minutes, Aday Mara or Ryan Sorber playing 700+ minutes, Ajay Mitchell appearing in 65+ games, Cason getting an extension before the season, Kenrich Williams topping 1,100 minutes, and much more. Plus, there are some big-picture bets on the table: Does OKC win more than 62.5 games? Could two Thunder players receive DPOY votes or two players get Sixth Man of the Year votes? And could Sam Presti make a deadline move for a top-nine rotation player? Which predictions are we most confident in, and which ones are we willing to let someone else take?Sep 23, 2026

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PODCAST: Answering the Most Important Thunder Questions

On this episode, the Thunder mailbag is open as the crew answers some of the biggest questions surrounding Oklahoma City ahead of the upcoming season. With the Thunder entering the year as defending champions, there is no shortage of topics to debate, from the top of the roster all the way down to potential weaknesses and breakout candidates. One of the biggest questions centers on who should be considered Oklahoma City’s second-best player behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams both playing major roles in the Thunder’s championship core, the guys make the case for each and discuss what could ultimately separate them this season. The conversation also turns to the biggest potential weakness on the roster. Even for a team coming off a title, there are still areas that could be tested over the course of a long season. The crew looks at where OKC could be vulnerable, which players may need to take another step forward, and what could potentially keep the Thunder from reaching the same level again. There is also plenty of discussion about the offseason, including what can be taken away from the team’s various meetups and what those moments might say about chemistry heading into the year. From there, the mailbag gets a little less serious with some completely off-the-wall questions mixed into the basketball discussion. The episode wraps up with Prairie Trivia presented by Prairie Artisan Ales before the guys play Two Truths and a Lie centered on the upcoming Thunder season. Between predictions, roster debates, and some intentionally ridiculous takes, the game provides one final way to look ahead at what could be another massive year in Oklahoma City.Sep 15, 2026

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PODCAST: Who Will Carry the Scoring Burden for Thunder This Season?

Sep 9, 2026

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PODCAST: Ranking the Western Conference Teams

Sep 4, 2026

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PODCAST: Allocating Minutes to Thunder Players for Regular Season and Playoffs

Aug 26, 2026

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PODCAST: Thunder Schedule Breakdown and Russell Westbrook Retirement Thoughts

Aug 18, 2026

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PODCAST: What Can Be Expected of the Thunder's Three Rookies?

Aug 8, 2026

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PODCAST: What is OKC Thunder Missing Out on With Spencer Jones Remaining in Denver?

Jul 28, 2026

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OKC Thunder Will Have a Top Bench Duo in Entire NBA Next Season

Jul 25, 2026

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PODCAST: Reflecting on Lu Dort’s Time with the OKC Thunder

Jul 21, 2026

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Why the Thunder Trading Lu Dort Had to Happen

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Jul 19, 2026

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PODCAST: Checking in on the OKC Thunder Summer League Squad

Jul 14, 2026

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PODCAST: Early Thunder Summer League Reactions and Analysis

Jul 8, 2026

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PODCAST: Breaking Down Thunder's Recent Trades and Upcoming Offseason Decisions

Jun 30, 2026

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Isaiah Hartenstein’s New Extension Gives Thunder Long-Term Stability at Center

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Jun 27, 2026

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OKC Thunder Adds Defensive Difference-Maker Otega Oweh After Trading Back in Second Round of NBA Draft

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Jun 25, 2026

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Thunder Trade Up for Bennett Stirtz, Continue Strong Draft Night

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Jun 24, 2026

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