Oklahoma City Thunder Secure Top Spot in NBA Future Power Rankings

The Oklahoma City Thunder rank first in ESPN’s three-year outlook for 2026-2029, bolstered by a core featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

The Oklahoma City Thunder earned the top position in ESPN's NBA Future Power Rankings, a projection of on-court success for the 2026-27 through 2028-29 seasons. Analysts Ben Golliver, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, and Dean Oliver rated the league based on five metrics, placing the Thunder ahead of the second-ranked San Antonio Spurs. Oklahoma City maintained its core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams while reducing payroll by over $300 million to drop below the second apron this season. However, Gilgeous-Alexander’s supermax extension begins in 2027-28, which insiders project could force the team back into second-apron status or necessitate trades of supporting talent.

The San Antonio Spurs climbed to the second spot, driven by 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama. Financial projections for San Antonio improved after Wembanyama elected not to include an All-NBA or MVP escalator clause in his deal, potentially saving the franchise $10 million annually starting in 2027-28. The Boston Celtics rank third following a 56-26 season. Despite trading Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia, Boston retains four available first-round picks and star Jayson Tatum, though projections suggest Tatum may be the only member of the 2024 championship roster remaining by 2029-30.

Rounding out the top five are the Houston Rockets at fourth and the defending champion New York Knicks at fifth. The Rockets hold an unprotected pick swap with the Brooklyn Nets for next summer and recently integrated veteran Kevin Durant, who holds a $46 million player option for next season. The Knicks face upcoming financial decisions regarding Karl-Anthony Towns, who is eligible for a four-year, $272 million extension. Other notable rankings include the Detroit Pistons at sixth, the Charlotte Hornets at seventh, and the Philadelphia 76ers at eighth following the additions of LeBron James and Paul George.