The OKC Thunder may not have become the first repeat champion since the 2018 Warriors this season as they had hoped, but come next year, they have a chance to snap a long-standing streak that's been underway ever since Golden State went back-to-back.
With the Knicks having just won the 2026 NBA Finals, there have now officially been eight different teams to win the title in the last eight years, which registers as the longest such streak in league history.
While commissioner Adam Silver may be a fan of this high-end parity, the odds-makers certainly aren't. In fact, the majority of projections have the Thunder set as the favorites to snap this storied streak come next season.
Polymarket currently has the Thunder boasting a 20 percent chance of winning it all next season, the top mark among projected contenders, while FanDuel has them tied with San Antonio with the highest title odds at plus-250.
ESPN also appears extremely high on Oklahoma City heading into 2026-27, ranking them number one on their post-Finals NBA power rankings.
Though a lot could change between now and next June, at least as of this moment, the expectation is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company could very easily halt this historic streak of different champions at eight.
Desire to win 2027 NBA Finals could influence draft strategy for Thunder
The Thunder will be looking to win their second title in three years next season.
In order to do that, they'll not only need to hold onto the majority of their championship-tested nucleus but also bolster their surrounding depth with talents who could positively contribute to the club right from the jump.
It is because of this that Sam Presti is likely strongly considering taking Yaxel Lendeborg with their number 12 pick in the upcoming draft.
His fit on OKC seemingly makes far too much sense, and ESPN's Jeremy Woo only further strengthened such sentiment in his latest mock draft, where he noted that the forward is "drawing consideration from every team in this range," due to his perceived ability "to produce right away."
Lendeborg finds himself coming into the pros with quite an illustrious resume.
Just this past season alone with Michigan, he wrapped with averages of 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks on 51.5 percent shooting from the floor and 37.2 percent shooting from deep, earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and, most importantly, played a leading role in the Wolverines winning an NCAA Championship.
Considering how things went down against San Antonio, it's widely believed that the Thunder could stand to use more length, strength, defensive versatility, and toughness down in their frontcourt rotation.
Fortunately for them, such qualities are what the 23-year-old is best known for providing on the hardwood.
Add in the fact that he'd be attached to a highly affordable, rookie-scale deal, and it doesn't seem like it could get more strategic and logical than the idea of OKC snatching up a talent like Lendeborg in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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