Welcome to the birth of the newest rivalry between the top two teams in the West, thanks to last season’s events.
The conversation could go either way as the Oklahoma City Thunder open their 2026-27 season against the same opponent that knocked them off the throne. The San Antonio Spurs.
Why This Opening Night Matchup Defines OKC’s Narrative
Embracing the Rivalry and Taking Back the Crown
Faced with everything that comes with being the defending champions, including taking everyone’s best punch, San Antonio sent a clear message: they were much better, much sooner, than many people thought, beating the Thunder four out of five games in the regular season.
However, the Thunder weren’t ready to call it a rivalry. Well, the Spurs proved to have the upper hand, knocking them out in the Western Conference Finals in Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
Opening against San Antonio immediately allows Oklahoma City to quiet the noise and set the tone on who runs the West or ignite the flames of the Spurs closing the Thunder’s title window.
Chet Holmgren Kryptonite
Headlines between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have centered on the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup Final, when Team USA narrowly defeated France 83–81 to win the gold medal.
In their NBA head-to-head matchups, the two have faced each other 15 times, with Wembanyama holding a slight edge at 8-7 over Holmgren, including a 4-3 record in the playoffs.
It’s no secret that Holmgren has struggled against San Antonio, particularly last season, when he averaged only 10.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks on 46.3% shooting from the floor and 23.8% from three in 11 games. Many call it the Wemby effect, and the statistical and eye-test evidence supports it.
Unfortunately, let’s address the elephant in the room. Holmgren looked like a shell of himself in the WCF and shrank in Game 7. Many believe it’s no longer a rivalry between the two, and that Wemby has broken him. Now, at his lowest, there’s a bigger chip and an opportunity to change the narrative.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Early Statement
After having one of the best quotes in some time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I have answers to the test, but I’ve got to see the questions first.”
This was followed up with an anonymous Western Conference coach saying that “Wembanyama breaks the rules” in response to the quote.
After struggling against San Antonio’s defensive scheme being held below scoring averages and efficiency — 25.9 points per game on 40.9% shooting from the floor and 28.6% from three (54.6% true shooting). The Thunder superstar took personal accountability for the playoff loss and can prove his doubters wrong by reasserting his MVP status against what many consider the best perimeter defender, Stephon Castle, and in the paint against Wembanyama’s length and size.
The Last Word
While opening night is Game 1 of an 82-game season, in this case, with how last season ended, for narrative reasons nationally, the pressure will be on the Thunder to win, or it will be a non-stop talking point for the remainder of 2026 since the two teams won’t face each other again until Feb. 11 and March 14, 2027.
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
