The 2025 NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have continued to demonstrate why they captured the title last season. Through 21 games this year, the Thunder have suffered only one loss and are riding a 12-game winning streak, showing no indication of slowing down.

Against that backdrop, a former three-time NBA All-Star has expressed confidence that Oklahoma City could repeat as champions. However, the former star emphasized that the Thunder must meet one critical condition if they hope to secure another title.

Thunder Could Repeat As Champions Under One Condition

Former three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas claimed that the Thunder will repeat this season. Arenas praised how OKC has performed so far, especially considering the team is missing several key players due to injury.

While Arenas is impressed with the Thunder’s dominance despite the absences, he also believes that the absence of key players could prevent them from going back-to-back this year.

But Arenas emphasized that injuries are the only factor that could stop OKC. If their roster is fully healthy come the postseason, Arenas feels the Thunder will win it all again.

“Everyone can get better. (The Oklahoma City Thunder) can get better. So the fact that they’re dominating now and they have not played with their whole roster, that’s the bad part,” Arenas said. “If they’re 20-1 right now with how their lineup has been and you haven’t had the full lineup, there’s no other team that can say ‘Hey! We’re waiting for our guy to get back. … When we get our guys back, y’all in trouble.’”

“I don’t think there is a team in the East that is loaded enough to beat anybody in the West. It’s going to be a West Championship,” Arenas continued. “OKC, if they get hurt, that’s the only reason why they won’t be getting a championship.”

“I don’t think there is a team in the East that is loaded enough to beat anybody in the West. It’s going to be a West Championship.”@NoChillGilZero says OKC will win the finals again barring any injuries. pic.twitter.com/dwVSBDIYc4

— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) December 2, 2025

Looking at OKC’s roster, the Thunder are currently missing five players due to injury. Three are key contributors: Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Once these three players return fully healthy, other teams could have a much harder time beating the defending champions. That is especially true now that Jalen Williams has also returned to the lineup after missing 19 games this season.