Feb 25, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

What to Expect from the Oklahoma City Thunder's Season Opener

Originally posted on Oklahoma City Thunder on SI
By Nate Aker | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 12:21 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder's summer of champions is quickly coming to an end, as the team's season opener is now officially less than a month away.

Coming into this season as title defenders, the Thunder will have plenty of teams looking to hunt them down and stake their claim as the potential title contenders. But as Oklahoma City has a nearly identical roster makeup from last year's complete season, the Thunder appears unwilling to relinquish any reign the team has over the entire NBA.

Superstar and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, up-and-coming yet already established star Jalen Williams, the 7-foot-1 versatile big Chet Holmgren along with many more weapons a part of a deep Oklahoma City unit—the Thunder lineup is loaded, and this trio will look to help lead their team to a repeat title heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

To kick that off, Oklahoma City will have to make a statement in the first game of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

That first game will be against none other than Kevin Durant and his new team: the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets come into this season off a second-best placement in the Western Conference a year ago, 16 games back from Oklahoma City who sat comfortably in the top spot nearly all season long. Houston wouldn't do much with that feat though, as the Rockets couldn't best the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs despite taking it to seven games.

But going into this offseason, Houston decided to ship off Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and several draft picks in exchange for former Rockets stalwart Clint Capela—but more importantly, acquiring superstar veteran Kevin Durant.

Of course, the rich history between the Thunder and Durant is known across the league all too well. It'll get even richer on opening night too, as Oklahoma City will conduct its ring ceremony with Durant and his team inside Paycom Center.

The scene being set, Gilgeous-Alexander and co. underneath the Paycom lights with the Thunder crowd roaring still off its world-class high from last season's NBA Finals Game 7 win—it's going to be difficult for the Rockets to dial in on this team knowing the environment.

A refined SGA, JDub, Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, you can continue to go down the line, but this team is going to be amped up to get on that floor in front of their fans on opening night.

The Thunder is young, and the team is still hungry. They haven't skipped a beat, and the team's season and home opener should showcase that against Durant and the Rockets.

This article first appeared on Oklahoma City Thunder on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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