The Oklahoma City Thunder will try and win back-to-back NBA Championships for the first time since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018.
With the amount of parity in the NBA, it has become extremely difficult for a team to win two titles in a row. The Oklahoma City Thunder will try and change that.
The Thunder’s roster will virtually be the same led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was clutch during the Thunder’s 2025 NBA Championship run.
Coming into this season, the Thunder will have their 2024 NBA Draft pick Nikola Topic back, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesShai Gilgeous-Alexander says Nikola Topic has size and strength
There is great anticipation surrounding Topic and what he can bring to the Thunder fresh off winning their championship.
The 20-year-old has high basketball IQ, elite playmaking and passing. Topic’s skillset was on full display during the Thunder’s summer league.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s fresh off winning the 2025 NBA MVP, talked about what he has noticed from Topic thus far.
“He just understands how to play basketball, if I had to sum it up in one sentence.
“He sees the game, he’s posed, he has size and is strong.”
SGA on Nikola Topic: “He just understands how to play basketball, if I had to sum it up in one sentence. He sees the game, he’s posed, he has size and is strong.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
View Tweet
Isaiah Hartenstein says Nikola Topic will get ‘the opportunity to get better’ with the Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein who played a big role in helping them capture the title, has also liked what he’s seen from Topic.
He spoke to reporters about Topic’s game and how he has a great opportunity to shine under head coach Mark Daigneault.
“He’s been great.
“I think for him coming in, he does a great job of just controlling the pace, pushing the ball, great IQ, he can pass the ball really good.
“And then you can also see how much he can get better at, so I think that’s the promising thing.
“And then when you have a coach like Mark [Daigneault], he’ll get you chances, he’ll get the opportunity to get better so he’s in a great spot.”
Topic will have everything he needs to succeed in Oklahoma City. He has elite players to learn from and he will immediately be in a winning situation, which will only improve his game.