A popular talking point over the years that has flooded NBA discourse is the difference between small-market and big-market teams. While some may roll their eyes at the thought, there’s a belief that the league is better off with big-market franchise success.

The better teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are, the more eyes you draw. The more eyes you draw, the more money you make. The more money you make, the happier everybody in the NBA and around it becomes.

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Well, count the Oklahoma City Thunder as a skeptic. They had one of the greatest seasons ever. A historic 68-14 regular-season record translated to an NBA championship in the playoffs. The league has taken notice. They’re tied for the most national television games at 34 in the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now a household name. Everybody who follows the NBA knows who he is. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are also common names. Mark Daigneault is now viewed as one of the best head coaches. When you enjoy success, people watch. Regardless of market size.

Despite that, Mario Chalmers believes the NBA’s health will improve if a big-market team wins the Larry O’Brien trophy and prevents the Thunder from being a rare back-to-back champion. In Iman Shumpert’s “No Limit!” podcast, the two-time NBA champion voiced his opinion.

“I ain’t gonna lie. I’m hating. I don’t want them to win,” Chalmers said. “It’s a small market. Business-wise, what are we gonna do? They’re the best team. They got it all. But we need a big city to win.”

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Maybe this was the NBA’s mindset at one point, but it’s clear they no longer need to rely on their historic franchises to bring attention. Chalmers should know this, too. After all, the Miami Heat were in the national spotlight when LeBron James was there.

It’s more about the talent you have on your team. If there’s an MVP candidate, fans will watch. The Thunder have constantly been on national television because they’re one of the winningest teams since the 2010s. Most viewers don’t really care about a city’s size when they tune in to watch basketball.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 2-time NBA champion hopes OKC Thunder don’t repeat