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The Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent championship victory has sparked dynasty conversations throughout the NBA community.
Many believe they’ll continue winning for years, with comparisons to the Golden State Warriors, Lakers, and Spurs dynasties of recent decades.
Ex-players like DeMarcus Cousins think the Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will build a more powerful dynasty than the Warriors achieved during Stephen Curry’s era. However, others like Michael Wilbon see obstacles that could limit OKC’s championship window.
NBA insider Tim MacMahon recently shared his bold prediction about the Thunder’s future and Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential place in basketball history.
MacMahon sees Gilgeous-Alexander joining elite company like LeBron James and Stephen Curry
MacMahon believes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can reach the historical level of legends like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry by leading multiple championship runs.
“Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander one of those guys? Is he Kobe? Is he a Jordan? Is he LeBron? Is he Steph? Is he in that level of historical company? And can the Thunder continue putting a championship caliber supporting cast around him?
“My answer would be yes on both counts,” MacMahon explained.
His confidence stems from Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent performance, which MacMahon believes stacks up historically with the greatest seasons ever produced.
The insider sees multiple factors supporting his optimistic projection about both Gilgeous-Alexander’s individual trajectory and the Thunder’s organizational stability.
Thunder’s foundation built for sustained success
MacMahon’s argument centers on Oklahoma City already establishing their championship backbone. Beyond Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder locked up Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren with long-term contracts, securing their core trio.
The organization also possesses 10 first-round picks projected between the 2026 and 2031 NBA drafts, providing tremendous asset flexibility for trades and salary cap management.
“I mean, certainly the season that he just had stacks up with the best of the best in terms of history. We’ve talked a lot about the challenges of the CBA with the Thunder, but again, they’re going to have top three guys. A lot of their role players are locked up on very reasonable contracts that descend. They’ve got a ton of picks to back fill,” MacMahon noted.
The combination of star talent, cost-controlled role players, and draft assets creates ideal conditions for sustained championship contention.
MacMahon tempered expectations while maintaining confidence in their multiple title potential over the coming years.
“I’m not sitting saying the Thunder are going to rip off five of the next seven or anything like that, but I would certainly bet on the Thunder winning multiple championships. They’ve already got one winning multiple championships over a seven-year span,” he added.
Reaching the historical level of Kobe, LeBron, Curry, or Jordan requires extraordinary sustained excellence. However, MacMahon believes Gilgeous-Alexander possesses the individual tools and organizational support necessary to dominate the NBA for years to come.
The Thunder’s championship window appears positioned to remain open longer than most teams can maintain, creating opportunities for the type of dynasty-building success that defines basketball legends.
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