The Oklahoma City Thunder are viewed as the second-best team in the NBA according to the league's annual general manager survey, released on October 15. In a shift from last year's overwhelming favorite status, 43% of GMs picked the Thunder to win the 2027 championship, placing them behind the San Antonio Spurs. The team is coming off a 114-112 preseason win over the Indiana Pacers on October 13.
The survey reveals a notable change in perception around the Thunder's title chances. Last season, Oklahoma City commanded a daunting 80% of the vote. This year, they sit at 43%, with the Spurs grabbing exactly half of the votes. GMs still see OKC as a Western Conference powerhouse, however. A combined 97% believe they will finish as a top-two seed, with 47% predicting the first seed and 50% picking the second.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a central figure in the MVP conversation, though he is not the top pick. The Thunder's superstar guard received significant support but finished second in the voting. This places him among the league's elite individual talents as the regular season approaches. His performance will be vital for Oklahoma City's championship aspirations.
The Thunder's exhibition schedule has provided mixed results, offering glimpses of both potential and areas for adjustment. Following the narrow win against Indiana, they dropped a close game to the Atlanta Hawks 113-110 on October 12. Earlier preseason contests saw high-scoring affairs, including a 128-126 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on October 7 and a 116-110 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on October 6. These games are primarily for rotation experimentation and conditioning.
Oklahoma City's immediate focus is its final preseason matchup, an away game against the Houston Rockets later today on October 15. After that, the real work begins with the start of the 2026-27 regular season. The GM survey results confirm the Thunder remain a respected force, but the league sees the field as more competitive. Mark Daigneault's squad will aim to convert that high regard into another deep playoff run, leveraging its core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a talented roster to prove the GMs right, or perhaps even surpass their expectations.
