Thanks to a few nice additions the Los Angeles Lakers have made to their roster this summer, plenty of people feel the team has some upward potential this upcoming season. Deandre Ayton represents a major upgrade at the center position, while former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart should add defensive prowess, secondary playmaking and overall toughness and resourcefulness.

But others aren’t so bullish on the Lakers ahead of the new NBA season. ESPN polled its NBA insiders on a number of issues, and when it came to which team is most likely to take a tumble in terms of wins, the Lakers got 32 polling points, which was second only to the Milwaukee Bucks.

It isn’t entirely clear why so many insiders feel the Lakers will win a significantly lower number of games than they did last season. Many say the Western Conference has gotten tougher, but a few teams in the conference will also get worse, and therefore, the West as a whole may not be measurably better.

Perhaps some are predicting that LeBron James will finally fall off a cliff in terms of his production or demand to be traded by the midseason trade deadline. Even if he demands a trade, executing one would be extremely difficult, and that is something his camp is reportedly aware of.

The one legitimate concern about L.A. this season is defense, a department in which the team seems to be lacking.

Other than Smart, who some think will be a shell of his former self, the team lacks standout individual defenders, and the lack of defensive ability in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves is worrisome. However, the Lakers have likely gotten a lot better offensively, and that should at least somewhat mitigate what they lack defensively.

As the NBA offseason rolls toward training camp, one of the most intriguing questions surrounding the league is whether the Oklahoma City Thunder can repeat as champions. Their 2025 title run surprised some, but to fans paying attention to the rise of this young, well-coached squad, the writing was on the wall. Now the question isn’t whether they can win—it’s whether they can do it again.

Much of the Thunder’s success last season came from a combination of homegrown talent, exceptional chemistry, and strategic roster construction. General Manager Sam Presti stayed patient through years of rebuilding, collecting draft picks and betting big on development. That patience paid off. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed into a full-blown MVP candidate, Chet Holmgren overcame early-career injury concerns to anchor the defense, and Jalen Williams turned into a reliable two-way force. The trio became the heart of a team that ran deep into the playoffs and handled the Finals with surprising poise.

Yet, winning a title is one thing. Repeating is a different beast altogether. There are numerous factors that will determine whether OKC can once again lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy next June.

First and foremost, health will be key. The Thunder were fortunate to avoid major injuries during their 2025 run, especially to core players like Shai and Chet. With the league getting increasingly competitive, even a minor injury at the wrong time could derail their season. Holmgren, in particular, remains a player to watch in this regard—while his durability was better than expected in his first full season, the physical toll of back-to-back long playoff runs is a new challenge for the slender big man.

Depth is another critical area where OKC will need to shine. While their bench was serviceable last year, Presti made a couple of notable offseason moves to reinforce it. The additions of a veteran wing defender and a backup big who can stretch the floor show that the Thunder aren’t standing pat. These pieces may not make headlines, but they’ll play key roles in ensuring that the starters don’t burn out before the postseason.

Of course, repeating also requires mental toughness. Once a team wins a championship, every opponent circles that game on the calendar. The Thunder won’t be sneaking up on anyone anymore. That means they’ll need to bring a playoff-level focus to regular season matchups against teams eager to take them down. The ability to handle that pressure—especially for a team still largely under 27—will be a huge test of maturity.

A major reason for optimism lies in the leadership of Gilgeous-Alexander. At 27, he’s not only in his physical prime but has grown immensely as a leader on and off the court. His calm demeanor, surgical offensive game, and commitment to defense set the tone for the whole roster. He’s proven he can take over a game, whether by scoring 40 or by quietly controlling pace and flow. If he continues to evolve, he could cement himself as the league’s best two-way guard.

Holmgren’s development may be the swing factor. In the Finals, his rim protection and ability to space the floor were instrumental. But there’s still another level he could reach. If he adds more strength, improves his post game, and becomes more consistent as a rebounder, he could become a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a matchup nightmare on the offensive end. It’s not unrealistic to expect a leap in Year 2, especially considering the Thunder’s renowned player development staff.

One aspect working in their favor is continuity. The Thunder didn’t overhaul their core. Unlike some title teams who gut their roster chasing a second ring, OKC largely retained its identity. That continuity breeds chemistry, and chemistry wins games in the playoffs when things tighten up. With head coach Mark Daigneault returning as well, the team’s philosophy and schemes will remain intact—an underrated advantage in a league that often resets every summer.

That said, the West has only gotten stronger. Denver will be back with a vengeance after a disappointing playoff exit. Minnesota, despite some internal drama, remains a matchup problem. Golden State and the Lakers may not be what they once were, but counting them out in the playoffs would be foolish. The Clippers, if healthy, and the resurgent Pelicans could also make noise. And don’t forget the Mavericks, who made a huge splash in free agency. In other words, OKC’s path will be even more difficult this time around.

The East won’t be any easier. Boston is still elite, Milwaukee has retooled around Giannis, and teams like Indiana and Orlando are on the rise. If OKC makes it back to the Finals, they’ll likely face a more battle-tested opponent than last year. Repeating will require not only surviving the gauntlet of the West but doing so with enough gas in the tank to outlast the East’s best.

Another X-factor: hunger. Young teams often win one title and struggle to maintain the same drive. The post-championship glow can lead to complacency. How do you recreate that same desperation when you’ve already climbed the mountain? That’s a question Presti and Daigneault will have to answer. They’ll need to keep the locker room locked in, hungry, and focused—not just on winning games, but on improving every day.

Then there’s the issue of expectations. Last year, OKC was seen as a talented underdog with potential. This year, they’re defending champions with a target on their back. The national media will dissect every loss. Fans will panic over a three-game skid. There’s a psychological toll to being the team everyone measures themselves against. How the Thunder handle that spotlight—especially the younger players who’ve never dealt with it—will be crucial.

Ultimately, the question of whether OKC can repeat comes down to this: do they want it as much as they did last year, and can they stay healthy enough to go get it? The talent is there. The coaching is there. The front office is sharp and has the flexibility to make in-season adjustments if needed. But repeating requires a perfect storm of factors—many outside a team’s control.

Still, if there’s any team built to defy the odds again, it’s Oklahoma City. Their blend of youth, hunger, and cohesion makes them unique in today’s NBA landscape. They’ve already proven they can win it all. Doing it again would elevate them from exciting upstarts to the league’s next dynasty.

Fans in Oklahoma are no longer just dreaming of the future—they’re living in it. And if the Thunder’s trajectory continues upward, they might not be done collecting banners anytime soon.