Just a few weeks ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked almost unbeatable.
They finished with the NBA’s best record at 64-18, secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, and steamrolled through the early postseason rounds like a team destined to win the championship.
Now? The conversation around Oklahoma City suddenly feels very different.
After splitting the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, the Thunder no longer feel like the overwhelming favorites they were during the regular season. And honestly, that says more about the Spurs than it does about OKC.
This series has quickly become what many NBA insiders believed it would be all along: the real NBA Finals. One Western Conference scout even told ESPN that Spurs vs. Thunder “has a chance to go down as one of the best series of the past decade.”
The Thunder are still elite. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the MVP, the roster is deep, and their defense remains terrifying. But for the first time in months, Oklahoma City actually looks vulnerable.
And there are real reasons why.
First, the Spurs matchup is brutal for them. San Antonio has now gone 5-1 against OKC this season, including the playoffs. That is not random anymore. The Spurs’ size, length, and ability to disrupt the Thunder offensively have clearly bothered Oklahoma City all year.
Then there is the Victor Wembanyama problem.
Wembanyama is no longer just “promising.” He already looks like the best player in the world some nights. His ridiculous 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece in Game 1 completely changed the energy of the series and reminded everyone that playoff basketball is about superstar ceilings.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City suddenly has injury concerns too. Jalen Williams is reportedly dealing with another hamstring issue and is now considered day-to-day heading into Game 3. That is a massive storyline because OKC’s depth becomes much thinner without him fully healthy.
What makes this even more fascinating is how historically dominant OKC looked earlier this season. Through their first 33 games, many analysts believed they were on pace to become one of the greatest regular-season teams in modern NBA history. Their net rating, defense, and consistency were absurd. But playoff basketball changes everything.
Depth matters less.
Half-court offense matters more.
Superstars matter most.
And suddenly the Thunder are facing a Spurs team that may already have the most unstoppable player in basketball.
That does not mean Oklahoma City cannot still win the title. They absolutely can. But the aura is different now. The invincibility is gone.
Instead of watching a future dynasty cruise to a championship, the NBA may have accidentally created its next legendary rivalry.
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