With 30 national broadcasts and a Christmas Day spotlight, the defending champions must trade their grit for greatness as expectations soar for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially lost the ability to hide behind their underdog identity.
Oklahoma City will appear in 30 nationally broadcast games during the 2026-27 season, including 15 national exclusives. The Thunder will also play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day, giving basketball fans another opportunity to watch one of the NBA’s greatest teams.
This is not a burden. It is overdue respect.
The Thunder have always embraced being doubted. That became especially clear after they won the 2024-25 NBA Championship. During the championship celebration, Aaron Wiggins reminded everyone that Oklahoma City had once been dismissed as the NBA’s “black hole.” Four years later, the Thunder had forced those same people to call them champions.
That mentality helped build Oklahoma City into what it is today. However, the Thunder cannot completely rely on it anymore.
Everyone knows how talented this team is. Everyone knows Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is capable of controlling the league. Thirty national broadcasts will allow more fans to appreciate Oklahoma City’s depth, chemistry and greatness, but they will also eliminate any remaining excuses.
The player facing the most pressure is Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren did not play to his standard when the Thunder needed him against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. In my opinion, he wilted against that matchup. He stopped playing with the necessary aggression, passed on opportunities and failed to consistently impose himself.
If Holmgren had competed with confidence, taken his shots and performed anywhere near his standard, Oklahoma City could have been playing in the NBA Finals instead of losing Game 7 at home.
That cannot happen again.
The increased attention should strengthen the Thunder’s confidence. This is a team that feeds off proving people wrong, but it is also talented enough to handle becoming the team everyone wants to defeat. Oklahoma City should welcome every national appearance as another chance to remind the league who controls the Western Conference.
There is also no reason to soften the expectations. The Thunder must win the 2026-27 NBA Championship.
Giannis Antetokounmpo famously argued there is “no failure in sports” after Milwaukee’s 2023 first-round elimination. He called disappointing seasons steps toward success.
Respectfully, he is wrong when applied to this Thunder team.
Oklahoma City has a former MVP, multiple All-Star-caliber players, elite depth and championship experience. It has already taken the necessary steps. This is no longer an inexperienced group learning how to win.
Anything short of another championship is a failure. Thirty nationally broadcast games confirm that the NBA understands exactly what Oklahoma City has become.
Now the Thunder must act like it.
