LeBron James has issued a direct warning to the NBA about overlooking the Oklahoma City Thunder this season. His comments come as the Thunder continue their preseason schedule, most recently securing a 114-112 victory over the Indiana Pacers on October 13.
On his 'Mind the Game' podcast with Steve Nash, James argued the league should not dismiss Oklahoma City. He specifically praised the team's roster construction and their ability to stay competitive despite offseason moves. The Thunder lost rotation players like Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins due to financial constraints.
James pointed to the young talent across the NBA but stressed the danger of moving on from the Thunder too quickly. "I hope we don’t turn the page too quickly on OKC," James said. "They have too much talent and too much experience." He highlighted health as the critical factor, believing a healthy Thunder squad will be right back in the championship conversation.
The franchise's strategy has been clear: keep the elite young core together. That group is led by back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, versatile wing Jalen Williams, and elite rim-protector Chet Holmgren. Internal development is the key, with guard Cason Wallace projected to step into the starting lineup to fill the defensive void.
Veteran guard Alex Caruso will partner with Wallace on the perimeter. Meanwhile, rookies Ajay Mitchell and sharpshooter Jared McCain are expected to shoulder regular-season backcourt minutes. This should help manage Gilgeous-Alexander's immense usage rate. The return of a healthy Jalen Williams is also a major boost. "We’ll have an All-NBA talent who puts the ball in the basket and guards 1 through 5," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
The Thunder's preseason has been a mixed bag, testing their new rotations. Following the win over Indiana, they fell 113-110 to the Atlanta Hawks on October 12. Earlier results included a 126-128 loss to Milwaukee and a 110-116 defeat by New Orleans. These games are all part of the process for a team leaning on youth.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains focused on his own performance as the catalyst for team success. "I’ve just got to be the best player I can be for this basketball team, win as many games as possible," he stated at media day. His simple philosophy has worked before, leading to two consecutive MVP awards and the 2025 NBA championship.
The Thunder wrap up their preseason slate with a road game against the Houston Rockets on October 15. Then, the real test begins. They open the 2026-27 NBA regular season on the road against the San Antonio Spurs, a rematch of last season's intense Western Conference Finals. Fans can track the full upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
With internal growth and elite top-end talent, Oklahoma City believes it has the formula to contend again. LeBron James certainly isn't counting them out, and the Thunder are determined to prove his warning was justified.
