The Oklahoma City Thunder are officially the team to beat, at least if you ask the league’s general managers.
In the NBA’s annual GM survey, a massive 80 percent of executives predicted that the Thunder will repeat as champions in 2025-26.
It’s the first time since the Warriors dynasty that such a clear favorite has emerged.
The poll highlighted what many around the league already believe: Oklahoma City’s core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams is the best young trio in basketball.
“The Thunder boast an impressive young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams,” the report said, noting the group received 50 percent of the votes for best young core, easily topping the San Antonio Spurs.
With Holmgren and Williams locked into long-term extensions this offseason, the reigning champs have the foundation to dominate for years to come.
“Getting 80 percent of NBA GMs to agree on that topic might come as a shock,” the report continued, “but that’s typically how the survey goes.”
OKC’s competition, at least in the eyes of league executives, is limited.
“Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets each received seven percent of the vote,” the survey noted, while the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks also earned a handful of mentions.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic once again dominated the individual categories.
“Jokic is the most likely to win the 2025-26 NBA MVP award, the player who forces opponents to make the most adjustments, the best center in the NBA, the best international player in the game, the best passer in the game and the player with the best basketball IQ,” GMs told Yahoo Sports.
The two-time MVP also finished third when asked which player GMs would build a franchise around, trailing only Victor Wembanyama, who received 83 percent of the vote.
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