The OKC Thunder are coming into the 2025-26 NBA season as reigning champions. With this, it's only fitting that they'll be the team debuting the league's return to NBC, as the broadcast will be airing their banner-raising, season opener against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets on October 21.
Compared to last season, when they were somewhat slighted by the schedule-makers, Oklahoma City will be the poster boy for a slew of nationally broadcast contests.
From their long-deserved Christmas Day involvement to their epic showdown against the San Antonio Spurs on Easter night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company are tied for the most national TV spots this campaign.
However, among all of these must-see events, their 2025 semifinal rematch against the Denver Nuggets could be argued as the most exciting of the bunch, and recent remarks made by star power forward Aaron Gordon only seem to strengthen such a notion.
Thunder vs. Nuggets rematch gearing up to be must-see TV
During a recent appearance on NBA Today, Gordon was quite vocal about his thoughts on the Nuggets' chances to exact revenge on Oklahoma City this coming season, saying that while the Thunder may be on the rise, "we're coming right back around."
Following their hard-fought, back-and-forth round two series during last year's playoff run that wound up stretching to seven games, fans and pundits have been champing at the bit as they wait to see these two ball clubs once again clash heads.
These remarks made by the Denver star only make the rematch all the more rousing to think about.
Unfortunately, the patience of these excited individuals will be tested while awaiting such a rematch, as the first time the Thunder and Nuggets will square off against one another is scheduled all the way out on February 1, roughly four months into the season.
Fortunately, though perhaps a bit farther out on the docket than many may have wanted, this matchup will still be receiving a history-making royal treatment, as it will serve as the debut of NBC's Sunday Night Basketball, a series that will look to follow in the footsteps of the highly popular Sunday Night Football once the NFL season comes to a close.
On its own, this outing is one fitting for such an event. However, following Gordon's stern warning, this forthcoming rematch is gearing up to be a legendary face-off.
February 1 can't come soon enough!