LeBron James, the Philadelphia 76ers forward, just dropped a bombshell on his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, telling fans point blank not to “write off” the Oklahoma City Thunder for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. Yeah, you heard that right, THE LeBron James is out here imploring us not to jump ship on OKC, and he’s got some strong reasons why.
LeBron Calls Out The Hype Machine
So, what’s got King James fired up? He’s seeing a trend where everyone, from hardcore fans to the casual observers, is getting way too caught up in the hype around the San Antonio Spurs. We’re all “intrigued” by Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle, and hey, who can blame us? LeBron even said he loves watching those guys because they’re “unbelievable.” But his big point is this: we’re “quick to turn the page a lot faster than when we should.” He really hopes we don’t bail on OKC too soon. Why? Because the Thunder have “too much talent,” “too much experience,” and they were flat-out “hungry last year.” He emphasized the importance of health, saying if those guys can stay healthy, they’ll “be right there again,” because “they’re that good.” It’s a massive warning shot across the bow of anyone dismissing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his crew.
The Thunder’s Unfinished Business and Brutal WCF Exit
Let’s be real, OKC has been absolutely ridiculous. Led by the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they didn’t just win, they conquered. The Thunder took home the 2024-25 NBA championship after snagging a league-high 68 wins. And last season, the 2025-26 run, they dominated the regular season again with another league-high, this time 64 victories. They cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs like it was nothing, sweeping both the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers. But then, heartbreak. They fell to the San Antonio Spurs in a brutal seven-game Western Conference Finals series. The Spurs had their number in the regular season too, beating OKC in four out of five games. What really stung was the injury bug that bit hard during that series. Jalen Williams, an All-NBA Third Teamer in 2024-25, only managed to play 55 minutes over three games because of an aggravated left hamstring strain. And guard Ajay Mitchell was sidelined for the final four games of the series with a right soleus strain. We can only wonder what might have been, but even with those setbacks, the Spurs deserved their win.
Here’s the kicker: FanDuel Sportsbook still sees OKC as the favorites to win the NBA championship, giving them the shortest odds at +240, with the Spurs right behind at +270. That’s a strong vote of confidence from the oddsmakers, backing up exactly what LeBron is saying.
The Thunder kick off their regular season on Tuesday, October 20, with a grudge match against those very same Spurs. It’s a chance for redemption right out of the gate. Get ready for some fireworks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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