Oklahoma City Thunder Projected Starting Lineup and Rotation: Did They Lose Too Much Depth?
The last two seasons were great for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have looked almost unbeatable for a long time. They won the 2025 NBA championship, followed that up with an NBA-best 64-18 record in 2025-26, and reached the Western Conference Finals again before losing to the Spurs in seven games.
Even that playoff exit needs some context, because Jalen Williams missed 10 playoff games with hamstring problems and Ajay Mitchell also missed Game 7 with a right soleus strain. Oklahoma City was still ridiculous statistically. The Thunder finished seventh in offensive rating at 118.9, first in defensive rating at 107.7, and first in net rating at +11.1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team in scoring with 25.8 points per game, while Josh Giddey added 17.4 points and 9.8 assists per game. The Thunder's bench was also a strength, with Isaiah Joe scoring 12.5 points per game off the bench.
But despite their success, the Thunder have lost some key players in the offseason. Luguentz Dort signed with the Dallas Mavericks, while Isaiah Joe was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Thunder also lost their head coach, Mark Daigneault, who was hired by the Boston Celtics.
The Thunder's projected starting lineup and rotation have been revealed, and it looks like they will be relying heavily on their young players. Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the primary ball handlers, while Isaiah Joe and Aleksej Pokusevski will provide scoring punch off the bench.
The Thunder's schedule is also looking tough, with a run of games against top teams in the Western Conference. They will need to be at their best if they want to make a deep playoff run.
Ahead of a run of games you can check on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
What Happened?
The Oklahoma City Thunder's projected starting lineup and rotation have been revealed, but did they lose too much depth after their 2025 NBA championship win?
Why It Matters for Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder's success this season will depend on their ability to adapt to their new lineup and rotation. They will need to be able to score and defend at a high level if they want to make a deep playoff run.
What Comes Next?
The Thunder's schedule is looking tough, but they have the talent and depth to make a deep playoff run. They will need to be at their best if they want to make it to the NBA Finals.
The last result was Oklahoma City Thunder 103-111 San Antonio Spurs (2026-05-31). Recent form (last 5) is 1W-0D-4L (LLLLW, most recent first); lost the last 4.
The Thunder's bench was also a strength, with Isaiah Joe scoring 12.5 points per game off the bench. The Thunder finished seventh in offensive rating at 118.9, first in defensive rating at 107.7, and first in net rating at +11.1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team in scoring with 25.8 points per game, while Josh Giddey added 17.4 points and 9.8 assists per game. The Thunder's projected starting lineup and rotation have been revealed, and it looks like they will be relying heavily on their young players.
The Thunder's schedule is also looking tough, with a run of games against top teams in the Western Conference. They will need to be at their best if they want to make a deep playoff run.
