The Spurs' recent surge ignites a familiar debate. Discover which teams truly challenge OKC's dominance and who emerges as the ultimate rival.
Back in the preseason, in this very space, I wrote a story entitled "Who Is OKC's Biggest Rival?". The idea was this young team coming off of a championship and built to be an annual contender was organically building rivalries throughout the league but that none had emerged as the Thunder's clear arch nemesis as of yet. The nominees I proposed were the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors.
The subject of Oklahoma City's present and future rival became a talking point over the past couple of weeks as the upstart Spurs knocked off the defending champions three times in 13 days. Victor Wembanyama was always looming in the background of Thunder dynasty talk. But nobody imagined that moment would come this soon.
With OKC vs San Antonio becoming a timely topic, I thought it would be fun to revisit the rivalry conversation. So I asked Thunder fans on X to name Oklahoma City's biggest rival. After tabulating around 200 responses, five teams emerged as the clear top answers.
5. Houston Rockets. Some of the distaste between these two fanbases can be traced all the way back to the James Harden trade and the Russell Westbrook vs Harden MVP debate. A bit is due to both teams going through rebuilds on a similar timeline. A little is Oklahoma vs Texas, a mostly coincidental running theme. A smidge is the fact both teams are contenders. And a substantial chunk is because their starting small forward is Kevin Wayne Durant.
4. Dallas Mavericks. Thunder fans have not forgotten last team to beat their squad in the playoffs nor the short lived but electric rivalry that series brought to life. Luka Doncic may be gone, but as long as PJ Washington is on the Mavs roster, OKC enthusiasts will always be wary.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander versus Anthony Edwards. Chris Finch's referee hijinks. Two contending teams in the Northwest Division. A 2-2 season split two seasons ago. A 2-2 season split one season ago. A 1-1 season split so far this season. A fresh Western Conference Finals matchup.
2. San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama and his teammates were practically 1B in the voting results. But as much as dropping three straight games to the Spurs irked Thunder fans, most still consider them the current second biggest threat to OKC's back to back hopes. Though it is clear the future is very near.
1. Denver Nuggets. The team every Thunder player and fan says OKC had to conquer to win their first title. Last year's West Semifinals felt like the true West Finals. Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are likely to finish 1-2 in MVP voting for the third straight season. The general consensus two best teams with the two best players in two small-ish markets. Until the Spurs prove otherwise, the Nuggets are still the Thunder's biggest current rival.