Here's the Favorite to Win the 2026 NBA Finals

Published: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:11 pm

Thunder Favored to Repeat as NBA Champions, But History Looms

The NBA playoffs are underway, and all eyes are on the Oklahoma City Thunder, who enter the postseason as the top seed in the Western Conference. Boasting a league-best regular season record of 64-18, the Thunder are the clear favorites to win the 2026 NBA Finals.

Their path to the championship appears favorable, beginning with a first-round matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Experts anticipate a swift series victory for Oklahoma City. Should they advance, they'll likely face either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets, against whom they would also be favored.

However, the Thunder face a significant historical hurdle. The last team to win back-to-back NBA titles was the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Recent history is littered with defending champions who failed to replicate their success. The Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, both failed to reach the Finals after winning a championship. The Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, also fell short of expectations.

The Thunder's potential path to the Finals could include a Western Conference Finals showdown against either the Denver Nuggets or the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets struggled against the Thunder during the regular season, while the Spurs proved to be a more formidable opponent.

In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are the overwhelming favorites to represent their conference in the Finals. With Jayson Tatum returning to form, the Celtics are poised to make a deep playoff run. They will begin their playoff journey against the Philadelphia 76ers.

BNN's Perspective: While the Thunder's regular season dominance makes them the clear frontrunners, the unpredictable nature of the playoffs and the recent history of defending champions should temper expectations. The Celtics' strong performance in the East also adds another layer of intrigue to the championship race. The playoffs are always a test of skill, strategy, and resilience, and the Thunder will need to bring their best to overcome the challenges ahead.

Keywords: NBA playoffs, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA Finals, Western Conference, Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, championship, playoffs, favorites, seeding

Full Story