Oklahoma City appeared to have a perfect rivalry for the rest of the decade, but one wild move left the Thunder searching for a rival again.
In 2024, the Thunder were knocked out in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. With a heated series filled with drama, the Thunder and Mavericks looked ready to continue renewing their rivalry for years to come.
That rivalry even continued into the next season, as the Thunder beat the Mavericks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals but lost their other three matchups against Dallas. While injuries were an issue for Dallas in 2025, the teams looked to be on a collision course for the postseason yet again.