By Werner Ramos
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2025-26 season as defending NBA champions and quickly established themselves as one of the league’s top contenders. After earning the Western Conference’s top seed, they moved within one win of another NBA Finals appearance.
Instead, a 3-2 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs slipped away in the Western Conference Finals. Injuries played a role, but the seven-game series also exposed several weaknesses the Thunder must address if they hope to return to the NBA’s biggest stage.
Finding an Answer for Elite Frontcourts
Victor Wembanyama was the defining matchup problem of the series. His combination of size, mobility, and defensive range consistently put pressure on Oklahoma City’s frontcourt.
The Thunder have plenty of length between Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams, but length isn’t always the same as physicality. San Antonio still found ways to create advantages near the basket and control key stretches with its interior presence.
Championship contenders inevitably face elite frontcourts during deep playoff runs. Oklahoma City’s current group can compete with most opponents, but the Spurs showed there’s still room for improvement against dominant big men in a seven-game series.
Finding another physical frontcourt presence could help absorb some of those difficult matchups while allowing Holmgren to play more freely on both ends of the floor. The Spurs series highlighted the value of that flexibility in the playoffs.
Reducing the Offensive Burden on SGA
The Thunder’s offense remains one of the NBA’s most dangerous units, but the conference finals highlighted how much responsibility falls on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
When the Offense Became Too Predictable
San Antonio’s defensive game plan was straightforward: make someone other than Gilgeous-Alexander beat them after Jalen Williams went down injured.
Even while scoring 35 points and adding nine assists in Game 7, Gilgeous-Alexander often found himself carrying the offense alone. The Spurs crowded driving lanes, sent extra defenders his way, and forced Oklahoma City’s supporting cast into larger roles.
The Impact of Jalen Williams’ Injury
Jalen Williams’ absence significantly altered the series. His ability to create shots, attack mismatches, and relieve pressure from Gilgeous-Alexander became impossible to replace. That lack of offensive versatility became increasingly apparent.
Without him, Oklahoma City’s half-court offense became more predictable. Possessions frequently started and ended with Gilgeous-Alexander creating under pressure.
Why a Third Creator Matters
Most championship teams have multiple players capable of running offense when defenses take away the first option. The Spurs benefited from that depth throughout the series.
Oklahoma City’s elimination marked a major turning point in the postseason. With the Thunder out of the picture, attention shifted to the NBA Finals. Basketball betting odds now reflect the championship battle between New York and San Antonio.
Getting More Out of Chet Holmgren
Few players are more important to Oklahoma City’s future than Holmgren. His development remains one of the biggest factors in determining whether the Thunder return to the Finals.
How San Antonio Took Him Out of the Series
Game 7 was a difficult night for Holmgren, who attempted just two field goals and finished with four points. San Antonio’s physical defense pushed him away from his preferred spots and limited his offensive impact when Oklahoma City needed secondary scoring most.
Building Strength Without Losing Mobility
Adding strength will likely be one of Holmgren’s primary offseason goals. The challenge is building enough strength to handle playoff physicality without sacrificing the mobility and versatility that make him such an effective defender across multiple frontcourt matchups.
Creating Better Offensive Opportunities
Player development alone isn’t the answer. Tactical adjustments matter as well. The Spurs exposed several areas where Oklahoma City could be more creative offensively.
More designed touches, quicker actions, and easier scoring opportunities could help prevent opponents from neutralizing Holmgren with physical defense. The next step is developing the counters needed to stay effective when defenses adjust.
Restoring the Three-Point Threat
Oklahoma City’s offense thrived because opponents had to respect shooters across the floor, but that advantage disappeared against San Antonio. The Thunder shot just 34.4% from three, allowing the Spurs to pack the paint and limit Gilgeous-Alexander’s drives.
The shooting slump affected the offense in several ways:
● Fewer driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander,
● Less space for Holmgren to operate,
● Greater pressure on role players,
● Easier defensive decisions for San Antonio. Oklahoma City’s struggles weren’t unique. Anyone following the latest NBA news and trends throughout the playoffs saw how often postseason series were decided by which supporting cast could consistently knock down open perimeter shots.
The Thunder don’t need to become a different team. They simply need to rediscover the shooting consistency that helped make them one of the league’s most efficient offenses.
Handling High-Pressure Moments Better
Talent wasn’t the only difference in the Western Conference Finals. Composure played a role as well. San Antonio consistently looked more comfortable in the biggest moments.
Game 7 began about as poorly as Oklahoma City could have imagined. Five early turnovers helped San Antonio establish momentum and control the tempo, forcing the Thunder to play from behind for much of the night on their home floor.
San Antonio entered the series with a younger roster, yet often appeared calmer in critical moments. The Spurs played with confidence throughout the series, while Oklahoma City occasionally looked burdened by expectations.
Experience remains one of the hardest things to teach. Another veteran presence could help stabilize the team during difficult stretches and provide leadership in pressure-filled playoff moments, where small advantages often determine who advances.
Turning Lessons Into an Offseason Blueprint
The good news for Thunder fans is that none of these issues require a complete roster overhaul. Most can be addressed through targeted offseason improvements.
Oklahoma City still has one of the NBA’s strongest young cores, a respected front office, and valuable roster-building flexibility entering this offseason. The challenge is making targeted improvements rather than dramatic changes.
The biggest offseason priorities include:
● Adding frontcourt toughness,
● Improving secondary shot creation,
● Continuing Holmgren’s development,
● Strengthening perimeter shooting,
● Increasing veteran leadership.
Every championship contender faces setbacks. The most successful organizations use those disappointments as opportunities to improve and return stronger the following season.
Werner Ramos is a freelance writer specializing in delivering insightful and engaging content on current events, culture, and trends. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Werner brings complex topics to life for readers worldwide. His work combines accuracy with a fresh perspective, making him a trusted voice in today’s fast-moving news landscape.
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