Thunder inadvertently motivated forgotten rival to take a 'big step'

Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game One | William Purnell/GettyImagesThis summer, the names being associated as top threats to the OKC Thunder in their repeat pursuit are the likes of Kevin Durant and the Rockets, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, and, to some, Cooper Flagg and the Mavs.

However, shockingly lost in the hype surrounding these aforementioned foes are Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.

Despite being the West's runner-up in each of the last two seasons, Minnesota has seemingly been tossed by the wayside heading into 2025-26. The oddsmakers even gave them just the sixth-highest odds to win the NBA Finals in their own conference, stationed behind the polarizing…