Biggest threat to Thunder championship repeat comes down to one man

The Denver Nuggets pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Game 7 in last season's Western Conference Semifinals, nearly derailing their title run. This offseason, Denver significantly retooled its roster by adding key players such as Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown, Jonas Valančiūnas, and Tim Hardaway Jr. to address rotational weaknesses, making this matchup one of the most compelling in the Western Conference.

Stylistically, the two teams are perfect foils. Denver thrives on motion, passing, cuts, three-point shooting, and Nikola Jokić’s playmaking, while the Thunder’s defense is designed to disrupt these actions by cutting off easy looks and forcing contested shots. This creates a strategic chess match between Denver’s ball movement and OKC’s defensive rotations.

The X-factor remains Nikola Jokić. During their playoff clash, the Thunder executed a sophisticated defensive game plan against him, using a multi-pronged approach with defenders of varying sizes and skills, such as Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, to limit his dominance. This strategy forced Jokić into occasional inefficiency, like his 7-for-22 shooting in Game 4, though he also showcased his ceiling with a 44-point, 15-rebound explosion in Game 5.

If Jokić operates at his peak, Denver can leverage his playmaking to match OKC punch-for-punch. However, if the Thunder’s defensive schemes—combining timely doubles, physical rim protection, and full-court pressure—can contain him closer to "great" rather than "historic," they retain a decisive advantage. This nuanced battle could decide not only the Western Conference but the entire NBA landscape.

Denver’s improved depth makes them a stronger challenger than last season, but Oklahoma City’s youth, switchable defense, and the ascending star power of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keep them firmly in control of this burgeoning rivalry, which is far from over and may define the league for years to come.