The 2026 Western Conference Finals delivered exactly what the hype promised. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder battled in a seven-game thriller that reminded everyone why this series was the most anticipated of the decade.
It marked the first postseason matchup featuring two 62-plus win teams since the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz. The buildup evoked memories of the 2018 Western Conference Finals between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
Winner: Victor Wembanyama
What Wembanyama accomplished in just his second NBA season defies conventional expectations. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won a championship in his second year but had a full college career. Magic Johnson did it as a rookie alongside Abdul-Jabbar. LeBron James needed four years to reach the Finals and four more to return after getting swept.
Wembanyama has claimed the title of best player in the NBA at an age where most stars are still developing. His room for growth suggests he could hold that distinction for a decade or more. The Spurs are now favored to win the NBA Finals, and Wembanyama could secure his championship at Madison Square Garden, the sport's most iconic arena.
He hits critical milestones earlier than either Michael Jordan or LeBron James did. The campaign to unseat them as the greatest of all time has truly begun.
Loser: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander faced impossible circumstances. Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both went down with injuries, leaving him as the Thunder's sole high-level shot creator. Wembanyama's defensive presence at the rim forced him into difficult situations.
Six games weren't enough. The two-time MVP spent the season being compared to Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Players of that caliber win through adversity. Gilgeous-Alexander didn't this time.
His previous championship last season likely benefited from injuries to the Nuggets and Pacers. He possesses the NBA's best roster, which may explain why casual fans underrate him despite his statistics.
Game 7 was different. He posted 35 points and nine assists on 12-of-21 shooting against constant double-teams. That performance could have changed perceptions permanently. His teammates didn't join him—three starters combined for just 14 points.
The Thunder will return next year, and Wembanyama's ascent likely makes them underdogs again. Gilgeous-Alexander missed an opportunity to shed labels and earn a more meaningful championship that would have elevated him into exclusive company with other multiple-time MVPs.
Winner: De'Aaron Fox
This series nearly ended badly for Fox. He missed the first two games with a high ankle sprain. Dylan Harper made a compelling case to be the starting point guard moving forward with a massive Game 1 performance.
Fox returned for Game 3 but wasn't effective. The Thunder gave him little respect from three-point range, and his struggles peaked with a 5-of-24 shooting stretch in Games 5 and 6.
With a max contract kicking in this offseason and Harper potentially making him obsolete, Game 7 represented the defining moment of Fox's career.
He delivered. Fox was the difference between the Spurs advancing to the NBA Finals and going home. The broader questions—Harper as the long-term starter, Fox's contract value, whether three perimeter players can coexist—can wait. For now, the Spurs are four wins from a championship because Fox showed up when it mattered most.
Loser: Chet Holmgren
Holmgren typically operates passively on offense, serving as one of the league's premier defenders whilespacing the floor. With the NBA's best roster surrounding him, that limited role works. This series required more.
Without Williams and Mitchell, the Thunder needed shot creation from Holmgren. He couldn't provide it. Wembanyama blocked his path to the basket, and Holmgren's slow release never scared the Spurs from beyond the arc.
After launching four three-pointers in Game 1, he attempted only seven over the remaining six games. He disappeared for large stretches.
Game 7 was catastrophic. Holmgren played 33 minutes and took just two shots—for reference, Ben Simmons took four in his infamous Game 7 against the Hawks. He committed as many turnovers as field goal attempts, failing to secure rebounds or hold onto passes.
Once billed as a generational rivalry with Wembanyama, that competition simply doesn't exist anymore. Wembannyama reigns as the world's best player. Holmgren remainsvaluable but couldn't adapt when circumstances demanded more.
Lu Dort
The Thunder's other starter also struggled to make an impact throughout the series.