The OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are building up to be the league's next big rivalry, and, though it was largely believed that motivation to topple the other was solely coming from the Lone Star State, following their NBA Cup Semifinal bout last weekend, it's more than apparent that it's actually a two-way street.
When discussing Oklahoma City's 111-109 loss directly following the contest, superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was quick to highlight how excited he was to "find growth" following their tournament elimination, and that he's looking forward to trying to exact revenge on the Spurs in the not-too-distant future.
"It stings a little bit more. We'll also see these guys a few more times over these next couple of games so it will be a good challenge," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Thunder star subtly stokes flames of embering Spurs rivalry
Though the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets may be seen as the direct threats to Oklahoma City's dynasty pursuits in the immediate future, San Antonio is viewed as a team built to contend with them long-term.
Considering they're led by 21-year-old wunderkind big man Victor Wembanyama, have five total lottery-selected talents still attached to rookie-scale deals, and possess a treasure trove of draft capital that rivals the Thunder's own, it's easy to see why they're seen in such a light.
In 2025-26, the competitive nature between the two clubs seems to be as fiery as ever, for though OKC is well ahead of all teams in the win-loss department, they are only three spots ahead of the rising Spurs in the Western Conference standings.
Let's not pretend that them being just the second team to hand SGA and company a loss this year isn't noteworthy.
The NBA clearly wants the Thunder and San Antonio to become heated foes. Why else would they have them slated to square off against one another on Christmas Day, where viewership is consistently at or near the top of regular-season charts?
For the longest time, the public narrative made it seem like this rivalry was predominantly centered on Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, who have been all the rage in the tabloids since their hotly contested Rookie of the Year race back in 2023.
However, with Gilgeous-Alexander's remarks, it's now clearer than ever that this battle for dominance goes well beyond just two players.
Because of this, not only does this make their next three games coming on December 23, 25, and January 13 true must-watch television, but the next decade seems to be brimming with potential for an entertaining and highly competitive ride.