The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the defending champions of the NBA.
Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the OKC Thunder were unstoppable in the 2025 NBA playoffs. In fact, the Thunder became the second-youngest team in league history to win it all.
With a roster so young, Thunder fans are expecting to win multiple titles in the coming years, including repeating as champions.
However, former Boston Celtics star Blake Griffin doesn’t believe the Thunder will make it out of the Western Conference next season.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostBlake Griffin predicts the Denver Nuggets reaching the 2026 NBA Finals
During the 2025 postseason, the two teams that gave the Thunder the most trouble were the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers.
OKC won’t face the Pacers in the playoffs unless Indy makes it out of the Eastern Conference. With Tyrese Haliburton’s injury and Myles Turner’s departure, it’s hard to see that happening.
But in the West, Griffin thinks the Nuggets could give OKC a run for their money.
“I’ll give you a hot take. I think Denver gets to the Finals in the West. I think Denver got better this summer, and they took Oklahoma City to seven games,” Griffin said on the Post Moves podcast.
With Nikola Jokic still in his prime and the Nuggets improving their roster in the offseason, it’s plausible that they eliminate the Thunder come playoff time if the two teams meet.
Let’s not forget the Nuggets pushed the Thunder to seven games with a struggling roster and a rookie head coach.
Blake Griffin names which team could win the Eastern Conference in 2026
Aside from the Nuggets and Thunder, there are a plethora of championship contenders in the West. But what about the East?
With the Pacers and Boston Celtics losing contender status and the Milwaukee Bucks losing Damian Lillard, which team could advance to the 2026 NBA Finals from the East?
“I think it’s New York [Knicks] or Cleveland [Cavaliers] in the East. I’ll take New York. So I’ll go Knicks-Denver,” Griffin predicted.
A Nuggets vs New York Knicks NBA Finals series could keep NBA fans on the edge of their seats. It’ll likely bring immense revenue for the league as well. So, it’s certainly not an outlandish take.