Recently, ESPN released their predictions survey of "how the 2025-26 campaign will unfold," and, unsurprisingly, the OKC Thunder were well represented.
Whether it was them ranking atop the list regarding who is being viewed as the favorite to be crowned Western Conference Champions (received 18 points, 16 higher than the second-place Nuggets) or to win the 2026 Finals (same point differential with the same two clubs), it's more than apparent that the participating league insiders see Oklahoma City as the clear powerhouse of the NBA.
However, despite the fact that the Thunder reigned supreme when it came to the survey's full-team accomplishments, as far as individual accolades are concerned, their inclusion was rather nonexistent, and easily the most significant sign of disrespect regarding this was the omission of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the final turnout for the question "Who is the best player right now?