Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle, defeating the Indiana Pacers in a hard-fought Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The victory marks a significant milestone for the franchise that has established itself as the early favorite to repeat next season.
"This is just the beginning for us," a team source close to the Thunder organization might say, reflecting the confidence surrounding the young squad that faced more resistance than expected from the Pacers.
While Oklahoma City celebrated their triumph, the NBA landscape was already shifting dramatically. The Phoenix Suns traded superstar Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets hours before the final game even tipped off, immediately propelling Houston to second-choice status in championship odds for 2026.
The Suns didn't stop there. They also bought out guard Bradley Beal, who quickly found a new home with the Los Angeles Clippers, forming what could be a formidable trio alongside James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Interestingly, the Eastern Conference runner-up Pacers lost center Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks, who in turn released Damian Lillard. The veteran point guard is expected to miss the entire upcoming season with an Achilles injury but has secured a three-year, $42 million contract to return to Portland, where he spent the first 11 years of his career.
The Bucks' championship odds improved significantly following the Turner acquisition, jumping from +10000 to +4000 despite losing Lillard.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have been perhaps the busiest team in the early offseason. They swapped Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson, traded Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas, and added depth by acquiring Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway via free agency. These moves have shortened their championship odds from +1600 to +750.
The Thunder currently sit at +230 to win next year's title, followed by the Rockets at second-favorite. Can Gilgeous-Alexander and company defend their title, or will Durant's move to Houston shift the balance of power in the Western Conference?
