NBA GMs Have A Lot Of Respect For OKC Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder may have some new competition for the top spot in the Western Conference, but NBA general managers still believe they belong among the league’s elite.

The NBA released its annual GM Survey ahead of the 2026-27 season, and Oklahoma City received recognition in several major categories. While the San Antonio Spurs emerged as the popular pick to win the championship, the Thunder remain one of the teams everybody will be watching this season.

After winning the championship in 2025 and following it with another impressive regular season, Oklahoma City has established themselves as a team built to contend for years. However, the latest survey shows just how much the landscape has changed in the West.

The Thunder received 43% of the votes to win the 2027 NBA Finals, finishing second behind the Spurs at 50%. That is a noticeable change from last year’s survey, when Oklahoma City received 80% of the championship votes. The Thunder also fell from receiving 87% of the votes to win the Western Conference last year to 47% this time around.

That shift reflects the growing belief in San Antonio, but it does not mean the league has stopped believing in Oklahoma City.

One area where the Thunder remain the clear standard is defense. Oklahoma City received 77% of the votes for the NBA’s best defensive team, comfortably ahead of the Spurs at 20%. The Thunder also earned 67% of the votes for best defensive schemes, giving head coach Mark Daigneault another major endorsement from his peers.

Daigneault finished second in the voting for best head coach with 37%, trailing Miami’s Erik Spoelstra at 43%. He also received recognition for his offensive system and in-game adjustments. The results reinforce the reputation he has built in Oklahoma City as a coach who can get the most out of his personnel on both ends of the floor.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remained one of the league’s most respected players. He was voted the NBA’s best point guard, receiving 67% of the votes, and finished third among players who force opposing coaches to make the most adjustments. He also received votes for MVP and was recognized among the league’s best leaders and clutch performers.

Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell also made the survey, receiving votes as potential breakout players. Wallace earned 7%, tying for second in that category, while Mitchell appeared among the additional vote-getters. That recognition is notable for a team that continues to develop young players while competing for championships.

The Thunder also tied Denver for the league’s best home-court advantage, with both teams receiving 37%. Oklahoma City received votes as the league’s most entertaining team and one of its most promising young cores, while finishing first in projected offensive efficiency at 27%.

The biggest takeaway is that expectations have changed, but the respect remains. San Antonio has emerged as Oklahoma City’s biggest challenger, and the Western Conference looks more competitive than it did a year ago.

Still, the Thunder have the defense, coaching and star power to remain in the championship conversation. Now they have another season to prove the rest of the league right to keep them near the top.