{"id":161637,"date":"2025-10-07T20:26:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T00:26:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=161637"},"modified":"2025-10-12T19:01:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T23:01:49","slug":"oklahoma-city-thunder-3-burning-questions-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/07\/oklahoma-city-thunder-3-burning-questions-2025-26-season\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Burning Questions For Thunder Heading Into 2025-26 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soon, the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to enter an NBA season as the reigning champion for the first time ever. However, even if they had just hung their 20th banner, they can’t afford to<\/a> rest on their laurels. While they were the team that won it all next season, there are multiple teams that rightly believe they can compete for a title in 2025-26. With that in mind, the Thunder have three burning questions ahead of next season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Jun
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) holds up the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy after winner Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hands it to him at the end of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back-To-Back?<\/h3>\n

After the Thunder secured the top seed in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, people probably should have taken them more seriously. Even so, OKC had a Cinderella story<\/a> last season. Forget all of the convoluted conversations about small market teams. The fact that a franchise that was firm but patient in their team-building approach, preferring to build through the draft but able to outsource the right talent, was able to secure an NBA title with charismatic but serious players leading the way was epitome of what the league is about.<\/p>\n

The question is: can the Thunder go back-to-back, repeating as NBA champions?<\/p>\n

Health permitting, they have every chance of making it back to the big show. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, Jalen Williams<\/a>, and Chet Holmgren<\/a> only seem to improve and their top player should still be playing at an MVP level. There is concern that Lu Dort<\/a> could take a step back as an off-ball threat with only two seasons shooting above 35% in his six-year career.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Oklahoma City isn’t overly reliant on the 3-ball. Plus, they could turn to Cason Wallace<\/a> or Alex Caruso<\/a> more if Dort’s shot isn’t falling consistently. Wallace, one of the better young defenders in the league, is a career 38.9% 3-point shooter. Caruso, who’s among the game’s top defenders, is a career 37.6 % 3-point shooter.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the reserve unit, the Thunder should be getting a solid boost from not only Wallace and Caruso but Aaron Wiggins<\/a> next season. Really, they’re like the Immortals with players like Isaiah Joe<\/a> and Ajay Mitchell<\/a> also available in the backcourt. Rookie big man Thomas Sorber<\/a>‘s injury is a blow to their frontcourt depth even though Isaiah Hartenstein’s an important backup. If one of Jaylin Williams<\/a> or Ousmane Dieng<\/a> could breakout, their frontline might be solidified.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Oct 5, 2025; North Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) passes from the key against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) in the first quarter at North Charleston Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Arthur Ellis-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worth Keeping?<\/h3>\n

Dieng was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-10 and 222 pounds, he’s averaged 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.2 blocks per game, shooting 42.4% from the field (29.3% from 3). As one would expect, he’s done much better in the G League, averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. He’s done this with solid efficiency for a perimeter-bound player, shooting 46.1% from the field (31.4% from 3).<\/p>\n

The problem for Dieng is that he’s entering his fourth season in the league without much to show for it. That’s not what was expected when he was drafted in the lottery. However, his performance in the 2025-26 preseason may be evidence that he’s ready to turn the corner.<\/p>\n