Serge Ibaka thinks OKC Thunder have chance to become NBA dynasty
After finishing painfully close to basketball nirvana, Thunder fans finally had the chance to enjoy the Larry O'Brien trophy. It was a moment that had been building up for nearly two decades. What Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Ibaka couldn't do, Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren did.
After Ibaka reminisced on how the Durant and Westbrook dynamic duo could've brought home a couple of NBA championships, the two-time block champion believes that the Thunder are set up to compete and possibly win more titles. He recently talked to TMZ Sports to offer his opinions.
"They have a lot of potential. The game now is very different. The game has changed," Ibaka said. "This generation, I think they have the chance to be one of the best. But it's always easy to say but hard to do it. On paper, they have a chance. They can do it."
Ibaka joins the consensus opinion. The Thunder enter the 2025-26 season as a popular title pick. They could be a rare repeat champion. After they signed Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren to contract extensions this summer, expect them to remain in the championship conversations for the foreseeable future.
"As an athlete, something I've learned is you can't really say numbers like that. There can be many things happen on your way there. But on paper, they have a chance to win three," Ibaka said. "They're young. They're going to keep getting better and better. Sam always do a great job at putting a team together. Right now, they're confident. It's their moment."
It's always nice to hear from a former Thunder great. While Ibaka couldn't help win a championship in OKC, fans quickly fell in love with the Thunder's first iteration. Despite several playoff shortcomings, they'll always have a soft spot in the heart of OKC fans as they welcomed the NBA franchise in 2008.
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