On Tuesday, the OKC Thunder will face off against the San Antonio Spurs in their highly anticipated season opener. The contest is projected to be tight throughout, but coach Mark Daigneault's squad may already have a major advantage that they didn't have in the prior season.
They are already healthier than their San Antonio counterparts.
The current health advantage OKC possesses is unfamiliar territory, as Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, among others, battled injuries all season long. J-Dub only played in one full game against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, and Mitchell played in just two full games.
Now, it appears the tables have started to turn. Tobias Harris, the Spurs' biggest offseason acquisition, will reportedly miss Opening Tip-Off with a calf injury.
As of now, the rest of the Spurs' core is still intact, and the game will likely remain competitive for a full 48 minutes as a result, but the early absence highlights a clear advantage for the Thunder. An injury before players even hit the hardwood is never a good sign.
Spurs will endure hardship in 2026-27 that plagued Thunder last year
Harris wasn't even on the 2025-26 Spurs team that punched their ticket to the NBA Finals, but his injury designation begs the question: how healthy will the Spurs be this year?
It's not uncommon for teams coming off a deep playoff run to battle fatigue and soft-tissue injuries the following year. The Thunder were a prime example of that last season. Williams didn't even start the year fully healthy, as he was still rehabbing from wrist surgery he underwent after OKC's title run.
There is a reason why repeating as champions is extremely difficult. It's a quick turnaround to go from the NB Finals in June to training camp in August, but at least the Thunder earned a ring to show for it. The Spurs last year were unable to finish the job.
Yet they still have to overcome the same hardships that all championship squads face. It would not be a surprise to see San Antonio suffer more missed games due to injury than they did last season. The Thunder, on the other hand, appear to be in better health than they have been in years.
Harris may just be the tip of the iceberg this year. While Tuesday's affair will be an entertaining one, there is a chance it might be the most star-studded contest between the Western Conference rivals, as any future meet-ups may feature numerous injury absences - this time, on the San Antonio side.
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