Across the league, contenders are quietly reasserting the value of length, strength and interior presence. The Oklahoma City Thunder, currently viewed as one of the league’s gold standards, often deploy Chet Holmgren alongside Isaiah Hartenstein, leaning into dual-size lineups rather than exclusively embracing five-out spacing. The San Antonio Spurs feature Victor Wembanyama at center, but they have shown comfort pairing him with another traditional big in Luke Kornet when matchups demand it.
