The Thunder's only two championships, 1979 in Seattle and 2025 in Oklahoma City, came from rosters built the same way: draft the core, then keep it. Camp opens with that formula intact — the same group that beat the Pacers last season, plus Christoph Tilly on an Exhibit 10 deal and Lindy Waters now overseas.
Built Through The Draft
The Seattle SuperSonics entered the league in 1967-68 and won the franchise's only championship in 1979. Nearly three decades later, in their final season before the 2008 move to Oklahoma City, the SuperSonics drafted Kevin Durant — the start of a build that continued with Russell Westbrook, Seattle's last draft pick, and James Harden, traded to Houston in 2012. Oklahoma City finally broke through in 2025, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games for the franchise's first championship since the move, with a core built the identical way: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams all arrived via the draft.
A Franchise Still Chasing
The Pacers are now the measuring stick, the team Oklahoma City has to beat again to prove last season's plus-11.1 net rating and league-best defense were not a one-year peak. Mark Daigneault enters his sixth full season with a roster that averages 24.3 years old across 17 contracts, still built to run fast and defend, the identity that carried the 64-18 regular season. Only one number hangs in the Paycom Center rafters from the Thunder era: Nick Collison's No. 4, retired on March 20, 2019, after he played for the franchise from 2003 to 2018.
Camp Opens On A Clean Slate
With the record at 0-0 and the opener not until October 20 at San Antonio, the only confirmed roster moves this month came two days apart: Christoph Tilly signed to an Exhibit 10 contract on September 14, and Lindy Waters signed with the Beijing Ducks on September 15. Everything else — Tilly's path to a regular roster spot, the frontcourt battles behind Holmgren and Hartenstein — plays out once preseason games start October 6 against New Orleans.
When did the Thunder win their only championship in Oklahoma City?
In 2025, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games. The franchise's only other title came in 1979 in Seattle, as the SuperSonics.
Has the Thunder roster changed since last season's title run?
The record is 0-0 with the 2026-27 season not yet underway. Oklahoma City has confirmed just two moves this month: signing Christoph Tilly to an Exhibit 10 deal on September 14, and Lindy Waters departing for the Beijing Ducks on September 15.
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