The Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder begins on Monday, promising a series that could be discussed decades from now. This matchup marks the potential beginning of a rivalry between two franchises with young, championship cores.
This series could represent a pivotal moment for a future dynasty or the birth of a superstar showdown. At minimum, the winner should be favored to win the championship.
10 Reasons This Series Carries Historic Weight
1. First Series of Its Kind Since the Jordan Era
The Spurs (62-20) and Thunder (64-18) finished with the NBA's best regular-season records. Both accumulated significant victories despite many teams tanking ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.
This marks the first playoff series between 62-win teams in 28 years. The last such matchup occurred during the 1998 NBA Finals between the Bulls and Jazz, when Michael Jordan clinched his sixth and final championship with the famous shot over Bryon Russell.
This is only the seventh series between 62-win teams in NBA history. Previous instances include:
- 1996: Bulls defeated SuperSonics
- 1997 & 1998: Bulls defeated Jazz
- 1985 Finals: Lakers vs Celtics
- 1981 Conference Finals: Celtics vs 76ers (seven games)
- 1972: Lakers vs Bucks featuring Wilt Chamberlain vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Matchup of Superstars
This series features the league's two best teams and players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently won his second consecutive NBA MVP award, while Victor Wembanyama finished third in the voting behind Nikola Jokic.
This could become the NBA's next great rivalry, joining legendary matchups like Chamberlain vs Russell, Bird vs Magic Johnson, and LeBron James vs Kevin Durant. Those pairings combined to meet 15 times in the playoffs, including eight NBA Finals matchups.
While SGA and Wemby don't play the same position, expect them to meet at the rim several times throughout the series.
3. Victor Wembanyama's Coronation?
Wembanyama stands on the cusp of unprecedented achievements:
- No player has ever led an NBA champion in scoring at his age
- No one in NBA history has reached the NBA Finals while finishing top three in MVP voting at his age
- Could become the youngest player to achieve these milestones
- At 7 feet 4 inches, could also be the tallest player to ever start and win an NBA Finals
Notable near-misses include Kareem winning his first MVP and title at 23, and LeBron reaching the Finals as an MVP finalist at 22 in 2007.
4. SGA Can Join NBA's Mount Rushmore
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the opportunity to cement his legacy by becoming the fourth player in NBA history to win MVP and a championship in consecutive seasons:
- Bill Russell (three straight from 1961-63)
- Michael Jordan (1991-92)
- LeBron James (2012-13)
SGA could join Jordan as the only players to average 30+ points per game while winning MVP and a title in back-to-back years. The magnitude of this series for shaping legacies and dynasties cannot be understated.
5. Thunder Eyeing a Dynasty
Many experts predicted a dynasty for the Thunder after last season, when they became the youngest team to win a championship since the Trail Blazers in 1977. This series represents another step forward for a championship team with a young core and extensive draft assets.
Oklahoma City possesses the pieces to establish sustained dominance in the Western Conference.