Defending champs Thunder clash with iconic Lakers. Star power explodes as LeBron faces MVP contender SGA in a highly anticipated playoff showdown.
After several days of waiting since wrapping up Round 1 in Phoenix, the top seed in the league finally know their second round opponent. And it's a doozy.
The Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA's defending champions will face off against the NBA's most popular team in a marquee matchup that is going to have fans all over the world glued to their televisions, monitors, phones and tablets. As if the hook of the champs vs the sport's biggest draw wasn't enough, the star power in this series will be off the charts.
LeBron James is one of the most famous and most accomplished players in basketball history. He is a worldwide icon. And the four time Most Valuable Player and four time NBA champion is considered by general masses to be one of the two greatest hoopers of all time.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over the past year has taken the baton from Nikola Jokic as the best player in the world. The soon to be two time Most Valuable Player and reigning NBA champion is climbing the all-time ranks with every passing trophy.
Not to mention the fact that Luka Doncic, one of the biggest names in the NBA, may return from his hamstring injury and make his 2026 playoff debut in this series. If not, he will still be given plenty of screentime on the national networks. Austin Reaves rounds out the Lakers Big 3.
On the other side, the Thunder have a couple more All-Stars in addition to their MVP. Jalen Williams will hopefully return from his own hamstring injury and pick up where he left off against the Phoenix Suns. And Chet Holmgren should dominate against an outmatched Lakers frontcourt.
The Thunder are huge favorites to beat the Lakers and move on to the Western Conference Finals to meet either the San Antonio Spurs or the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's not difficult to see why. Oklahoma City swept the regular season series 4-0 with an average margin of victory of over 29 points per game. If Doncic does not return, it's hard to see a path where Los Angeles can make this a competitive series.
But don't tell that to Lebron James. Somehow he turned back the clock to beat the favored Houston Rockets in Round 1. Even at 41 years old, he was the best player in that series.
This will only be the second time that James will meet the Thunder in the postseason. The first meeting took place in the 2012 NBA Finals when he played for the Miami Heat. James ended up winning his first title against Oklahoma City.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, neither Dwyane Wade nor Chris Bosh are walking through that door. Even more unfortunately for LA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is.