On Wednesday, it was revealed that the NBA's 2026-27 schedule is expected to drop sometime next week. Needless to say, OKC Thunder fans are champing at the bit as they wait for an early glimpse at what their beloved ball club's next journey will look like.
Considering they're the "It" team in the association, with their 2025 championship run and a foundation led by reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it's fair to assume that Oklahoma City will be slotted into a primetime matchup to kick off the upcoming campaign.
Starting the year on the right note should certainly be the ultimate aim for the NBA, and what better way to do that than to have the two most recent champions, the Thunder and New York Knicks, duke it out right out of the gates?
Thunder, Knicks opener is the obvious choice to kick off NBA season
While some may want to see the Thunder take part in a Western Conference Finals rematch against the Spurs, or to find New York play host to their new conference foes in the LeBron James-led Philadelphia 76ers, the reality is none of these would be as entertaining and, frankly, as competitive as an OKC versus New York opener.
The Thunder fell short of their goal of becoming the first back-to-back champion since the 2018 Warriors last year, and are coming into this season with redemption on their mind.
Frankly, Oklahoma City strongly believes they should have faced off against the Knicks in the 2026 title round, with All-Star wing Jalen Williams suggesting soon after their elimination against San Antonio that, had he been healthy, it's only logical to believe they would have been the West representatives.
Unfortunately, it was the Spurs who came away as conference kings and ultimately fell to New York 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
While it's always difficult and risky to play the "what could have been" game, it's hard not to think that, with their established championship experience, elite top-flight star power, and incredible roster depth, the Thunder likely would have put up more of a fight against the Knicks than San Antonio.
At the very least, you almost certainly wouldn't have seen them let up double-digit leads in every single game played, most notably the historic 29-point lead they relinquished in the series-defining Game 4 at the Garden.
Unlike the Spurs, OKC isn't known for playing with their food.
An opening-night face-off between the Thunder and Knicks could be a way to give fans a taste of the championship round that never was.
Oklahoma City would come in trying to prove they still deserve to be considered the top dogs in the association, while New York likely would aim to prove they could have beaten anyone en route to snapping their 53-year title drought.
A matchup like this would be an absolute barn-burning way to get the season started.
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