This summer, the OKC Thunder made the decision to run things back in 2025-26 with the vast majority of their NBA Finals-winning roster intact, retaining a depth chart consisting of players that accounted for 99.2 percent of their playoff minutes last year.
Though fans should be excited to watch this elite core fight to defend their place atop the league's totem pole this coming campaign, sadly, the wait to see them all return to the hardwood as a collective unit may stretch beyond October 21's season tip-off.
At least, that's what Sam Presti seems to be suggesting.