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Oklahoma City Thunder Eye Dynasty Amid NBA Expansion Talks

1/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as strong championship contenders and could start a dynasty, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the 2025-26 season as a favorite.
The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are building promising futures with young talent.
The league is seeing a resurgence in offensive rebounding strategies.
Discussions about expanding to 32 teams, with Seattle and Las Vegas as potential markets, are gaining traction.

History

Historical Context

The 1976 merger between the NBA and ABA marked a pivotal moment in professional basketball, allowing the NBA to absorb four ABA teams, including the San Antonio Spurs. This merger followed years of litigation, notably the Oscar Robertson antitrust suit, which delayed earlier attempts. Today, discussions about expanding to 32 teams echo the transformative impact of this merger on the league's competitive landscape.

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Story summary

The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as strong championship contenders and could start a dynasty, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the 2025-26 season as a favorite.
The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are building promising futures with young talent.
The league is seeing a resurgence in offensive rebounding strategies.
Discussions about expanding to 32 teams, with Seattle and Las Vegas as potential markets, are gaining traction.

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