The 4 biggest stories from championship-caliber OKC’s preseason ahead of the opener

OKLAHOMA CITY — The 2025-26 NBA season begins with a historic night for the champion Oklahoma City Thundercelebrating their first title in franchise history at the Paicom Center. Before taking over the Houston Rockets, head coach Mark Daigno and Thunder players will receive their championship rings and raise a banner in honor of the title. Then it’s back to work for the defending champs.

The champion Thunder enter the regular season as the favorite to repeat in 2026, but as recent NBA history tells us, the odds are not in Oklahoma City’s favor. Only three teams have won back-to-back titles in the past 23 years: the Golden State Warriors (2017-18), the Miami Heat (2012-13) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2001-02). Will the 2025-26 Thunder beat the odds?

Here are the four biggest Thunder stories heading into the opener.

After scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting in his preseason debut, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished the preseason with a combined 51 points on an efficient 20-for-24 shooting, including 5-for-7 from deep in three appearances. He didn’t play more than 20 minutes per outing, including a 23-point performance in a 116-112 win against the Milwaukee Bucks.

From a 29-point performance in a Game 7 Finals win against the Indiana Pacers to the upcoming regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander is picking up right where he left off. The reigning league MVP and Thunder’s title defense begins after their championship ring and banner raising ceremony at the Paicom Center, and SGA could be in the running for another MVP campaign.

2. Will 2025-26 Chet Holmgrenbreakout season?

Chet Holmgren looked good in his preseason debut against the Nuggets in the Thunder’s final preseason game before the opener. He finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block for 19 in the first half as coach Mark Deno rested the starters after halftime. But much has been said about Holmgren’s busy offseason, which should evolve into his first All-Star campaign.

From playing just 32 regular-season games to being the catalyst for the Thunder’s championship run, there’s plenty of reason to believe 2025-26 will be a breakout year for Holmgren. Taking into account Jalen Williams — Chet’s 2022 draft class — All-NBA stride last season, it’s fair for some to assume the second overall pick could follow a similar path.

Barring a significant injury, which has been the fourth baseman’s kryptonite, Holmgren predicted a big year. He averaged 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 0.8 steals per game before suffering a pelvic injury in 2024-25.

3. Mark Daigneault sees significant growth in Cason Wallace

Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault often reminded reporters during the preseason that even though his young players proved themselves by winning the NBA Finals, that didn’t stop their growth. That’s one of the many advantages of being the youngest NBA team. Daigneault listed Cason Wallace as a player who is better in development ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Wallace started 43 of 68 regular-season snaps last season, as Daigneault would signal to Cason on nights he neglected his starting 5 twice as big, including Isaiah Hartenstein. Along with Chet Holmgren, Daigneault says Wallace is another of the Thunder’s young players who has shown significant growth.

“He’s just getting better. He’s a developing player. He’s young. It’s only his third season. I think sometimes you forget guys are developing players when they’re so impactful,” Daigneault said. “Chet — a high-impact player — continues to get better. Cason — a high-impact player — continues to get better. Even Dub (Jalen Williams), he was only in his third year last season, and as strong as he was, he’s still getting better. Cason has a lot of runway.

“There’s a lot of things he can improve on. He’s worked really hard over the summer. He’s not interested in staying the same. He’s ambitious about his job, humble as he is. He’s definitely getting better since last season.”

4. Jalen Williams to miss Thunder’s season opener, more

The Thunder announced their active opening roster without All-Star Jalen Williams, who is still recovering from surgery on his right wrist. Williams played with a torn ligament in his shooting wrist throughout the Thunder’s championship run last postseason.

While updates on Williams’ recovery have been scarce throughout training camp and the preseason, the Thunder will begin their title defense without their All-Star forward. The Thunder announced that Williams is in the process of “returning to action” and they do not expect him to miss an extended period.