2026 OKC Thunder fan survey results: It's a title-or-bust mentality - OKC Thunder Wire

With the 2026-27 regular season right around the corner, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the year as a popular title pick. Even after their summer of cost-cutting moves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams remain one of the most successful and decorated trios in the league.

The Thunder had a league-best 64-18 this past regular season. But fell short of their back-to-back ambitions in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Injuries played a large part in that. But that's in the past. Can't change anything about it now.

Now that the offseason is behind us and we're looking ahead to another nine-month marathon, let's rewind on OKC's biggest moves and preview what most folks believe the Thunder will do this upcoming year.

To get ready for the upcoming season, Thunder Wire conducted a 16-question fan survey. A total of 1,145 Thunder fans participated. Not every question was answered, though. The response totals for each question can be seen at the top left corner of the pie charts.

One question was about OKC's 2026-27 expectations. From what most people said, it feels like a title-or-bust year. Nearly 80% (!!) of voters believe the Thunder will end their 2027 NBA playoff run with an NBA championship. A pretty hefty percentage that shows they think they're capable of a second Larry O'Brien trophy in three years.

Thunder fans' confidence is more realistic than hubris. They enter the 2026-27 season as co-title favorites — alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Anything short of an NBA championship should be viewed as a disappointment. Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams have one ring in hand. They're more than capable of adding another.

It'll all come down to health most likely — just as is the case for every title contender. You need as much luck as talent to win in the NBA. The Thunder didn't have the former last year. Williams' absence was too much to overcome in OKC's epic seven-game series loss to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.

Let's see if things are different in the inevitable postseason rematch. The Thunder and Spurs are in their own tier. And that should be the case. Even if the New York Knicks pulled off one of the best get-hot-at-the-right-time acts in pro sports history.