For a moment, it seemed as if the Oklahoma City Thunder raising a banner would be the only high point of opening night of the NBA’s 80th season. The Houston Rockets were showing signs of rust and were clearly feeling things out with their retooled lineup, but they were standing toe-to-toe with the defending champions.
Kevin Durant was slowly getting into the groove, while Alperen Sengun brought his fine form from EuroBasket 2025 into the NBA season. The Rockets’ new 1-2 punch looked ready to pull off the mini-upset of sorts. But it seems they gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder too much time.
Gilgeous-Alexander just needed to see the ball fall through the hoop a couple of times before rediscovering his touch. The 30 points he scored in the second half and in both overtime periods was proof of that as he went to his usual spots in the latter stages of the game and went to work.
Chet Holmgren feasted on Houston’s frontcourt, while Gilgeous-Alexander needed more time to get back into his usual offensive rhythm. With Jalen Williams sitting out as he continues to recover from offseason wrist surgery, it was a joint effort from Ajay Mitchell (16 points on three 3-pointers in 15 minutes of game time), Cason Wallace (14 points on three 3-pointers, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals), Aaron Wiggins (10 points on two 3-pointers), and Alex Caruso (eight points on two 3-pointers, three assists, two steals, and a block) that got the job done on both ends of the floor.
Name almost anyone from OKC’s roster and best believe they can produce when given enough opportunities. That speaks to the Thunder’s depth and talent accumulated over the years. The championship OKC won last season was the fruit of their hard work over time, but it’s also what will cement them as a potential dynasty for the foreseeable future.
That being said, the Thunder not only have the targets on their backs, but they also remain primed for back-to-back titles, a feat we haven’t seen since the Golden State Warriors clinched two consecutive championships in 2017 and 2018. This current group with OKC can repeat the feat thanks to how they’ve sustained their roster and kept the core group together. Many of their key rotation players have become wiser after last season, but they are also integrating the likes of Mitchell and Nikola Topic, who himself is primed to atone for lost time.
But at the end of the day, the Thunder will only be as good as Gilgeous-Alexander’s last game. Holmgren and Williams (when he returns) can step up when need be, but Gilgeous-Alexander is the most important nuance to OKC’s offense. The former Kentucky Wildcat is the midrange maestro that can space the floor. Gilgeous-Alexander is also a driving threat that can create dangerous 3-point opportunities for his teammates. He’s also a pest on defense and as such, he can’t be put in isolation and punished on that end.
Do the Oklahoma City Thunder have a weakness this season? That may be a question better asked 20-30 games from now. At the moment, though, despite the best efforts even from the talented teams in the Western Conference, destiny still arrives. And the Thunder may very well find themselves raising another banner and flashing their rings for everyone to see.
