Even with one Larry O'Brien trophy and possibly another, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain viewed as having one of the brightest futures in the NBA. In fact, ESPN recently conducted an annual exercise and determined that they have the best long-term outlook.
ESPN published its NBA Future Power Rankings. It's determined with a three-year projection on how each team looks in the 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028- 29 seasons. ESPN analysts Ben Golliver, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks and Dean Oliver rated teams in five categories and ranked them relative to the rest of the league.
The Thunder came in first place — the same spot they were in last year's rankings. They were ranked No. 1 in the player category with a 93 score; No. 1 in the management category with a 95;
No. 4 in draft with an 85; No. 29 in money with a 19 score; and No. 17 in market with a 48 score.
At this point, the Thunder are who they are. Very little wiggle room exists for seismic changes. That said, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-time MVP winner. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are each All-NBA talents. That type of franchise foundation is one of the best and most decorated trios in the league.
Throw in other players with room to grow — such as Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain — and it's easy to remain excited about OKC's future over the next three seasons. It enters the 2026-27 season as the co-title favorite — alongside the San Antonio Spurs.
"The Thunder finished with the NBA's best record and point differential in each of the past two seasons, and there's no indication that the next few years will go much differently," ESPN wrote. "Oklahoma City has a championship core that's still young, plus plenty of extra picks over the next few years and arguably the most respected lead decision-maker in the league in Sam Presti."
The only areas of concern are what happens once OKC's payroll is taken up by Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams. If you're hell-bent on keeping those three around, then they're going to take around 85% of your payroll for the foreseeable future. That means difficult roster decisions will have to happen elsewhere to avoid going over the second apron and facing financial tax penalties that most ownership groups have been unwilling to stomach.
We've already experienced one summer of cost-cutting moves. Could the Thunder do more drastic ones in the future? Who knows. But if they win a second NBA championship in three years, then OKC's ownership group owes it to the fanbase and the NBA world to pony up serious dough.
The whole point of owning an NBA franchise is for the golden window that the Thunder are in right now.
What does your squad look like in the next three years? 👀 Who wins MVP? 🏆 What duos are breaking up? 💔
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 16, 2026
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This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder remains No. 1 in ESPN's NBA future power rankings
