After Thunder's Title, Are Los Angeles Lakers Still a Threat to OKC?

After winning an NBA title, the Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to repeat again in 2025-26.

OKC won 68 regular season games in 2024-25, claiming the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference before defeating Memphis, Denver, Minnesota and Indianapolis in the postseason to claim the team's first title. Along the way, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned his first MVP award, Jalen Williams recieved All-Star and All-NBA recognition and Lu Dort was recognized on the All-Defense team.

After a remarkable campaign, the Thunder return each of the three aforementioned players, along with All-Star and All-Defense candidate Chet Holmgren, who dealt with a hip injurt last year. In total, the Thunder return nearly the exact same roster that the group played with in 2024-25.

The only difference in OKC's roster during the upcoming season will be Nikola Topic in place of Dillon Jones. Topic was injured last year, and Jones was traded to Washington over the summer.

With an impressive returning roster that is fresh off an NBA title and still mostly under 30-years-old, Mark Daigneault's team is in a good position to repeat as champions in 2025-26. Of course, winning consecutive NBA Finals is no easy feat, as the last team to go back-to-back was the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

Even with the same roster, Oklahoma City should still have a few obstacles to overcome on the path to another championship.

The Houston Rockets were an impressive group last year, earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a young roster. Like OKC, Houston brings back the bulk of its talent, including 2025 FIBA EuroBasket star Alperen Sengun, to go along with a few big additions.

The Rockets traded for Kevin Durant, which should give the team a much-needed jolt on offense, and added defensive reinforcements in Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Denver Nuggets took Oklahoma City to seven games in the second round of the playoffs, nearly ending OKC's run before the Western Conference Finals. Over the offseason, Denver traded for Cam Johnson and signed Bruce Brown, which should make the Nuggets an even more formidable group in 2025-26.

Aside from the Rockets and Nuggets, though, the Los Angeles Lakers could be a team that gives the Thunder trouble in a postseason matchup.

The Lakers were viewed as a poor matchup for OKC heading into the 2023-24 postseason, with observers citing Los Angeles' size as a problem for the Thunder. Sam Presti and company added Isaiah Hartenstein before the 2024-25 season, seemingly erasing that concern.

When the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, though, the Los Angeles became a difficult matchup once again. JJ Reddick's team is headlined by multiple outstanding playmakers and capable scorers, which can be difficult for any group to defend.

The trio of Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reeves was impressive against the Thunder last year, as Los Angeles defeated Oklahoma City by 27 points at the Paycom Center on April 6. The Lakers were locked in a battle with OKC two days laters until Doncic was ejected and the Thunder controlled the remainder of the contest.

To go along with the roster that trounced Oklahoma City last year, Los Angeles added DeAndre Ayton, a former No. 1 pick who should thrive playing alongside Doncic.

As Doncic enters his second year in LA, the Lakers could be a threat to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.

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