OKC Thunder's Top 5 2026-2027 Western Conference Rivals

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a clear goal headed into the 2026-2027 season: return to the NBA Finals and once again hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Opening Night is less than a week away. OKC fans are excited to see their team back on the court with the addition of a healthy Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell and with 1st Round rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz. The team is loaded with talent and will attempt to finish with the #1 seed in the Western Conference for the fourth straight season.

But as always, the West is loaded. There are five teams in particular that stand out as possible obstacles in Oklahoma City's quest to return to the biggest stage in the sport.

OKC Thunder's Top 5 2026-2027 Western Conference Rivals

5. Houston Rockets. Despite the Twitter drama and the playoff flameout, this is still one of the best teams in the league. And there are reasons for renewed Rockets optimism. Fred VanVleet returns to shore up the playmaking, by far their most glaring weakness. Steven Adams returns as their rebounding difference maker. Young players Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard could continue to improve. And Kevin Durant continues to play at an All NBA level going into his age 38 season.

4. Los Angeles Lakers. The top end talent will keep the NBA's most popular team in contention. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are a great 1-2 offensive punch. Walker Kessler provides the post defense and paint scoring threat the Lakers have long needed. Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes are solid role players. But the roster gets really thin once you scroll past the top five players.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves. Nobody knows whether swapping frontcourt stalwarts Julius Randle and Naz Reid for some much needed playmaking with LaMelo Ball is going to make this team better, worse or about the same. But the ceiling was certainly raised. Minnesota has too much talent and have had too much recent playoff success to ignore them as a potential postseason obstacle.

2. Denver Nuggets. This ranking feels high when the last memory of this team is losing to the injury plagued Timberwolves in the 1st Round. But the Nuggets are still three years removed from winning the title and Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are still on the roster. The battles with OKC are always top tier entertainment.

1. San Antonio Spurs. Let's be honest, the Thunder and the Spurs belong in their own tier. Not only in the West but arguably in the entire NBA. Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle are all young enough that they could take a collective leap. The front office added Tobias Harris for size and experience. If OKC had been healthy in the playoffs last year, there's a good chance the Thunder would be back to back champions right now. But there's also a good chance this season's San Antonio squad will be better than last year's Spurs.