Dream Thunder scenario brings Spurs closer to doomsday scenario

Even as the San Antonio Spurs struggle with injuries, they are off to their best start in years. They are currently fifth in the Western Conference and could very well be a top four seed come playoff time, giving them a big advantage.

Even so, the Spurs are undoubtedly worried about their rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are off to a shocking 20-1 start to the season and look as though they may very well win at least 70 games this year.

Their dominance is already historic, with them having the best point differential in NBA history last season and being the youngest team ever to win a championship. If the Spurs end up with a fourth seed and the Thunder have the best record in the NBA, San Antonio could very well end up facing them.

Assuming they get that far, that matchup could happen in the second round of the playoffs. That alone might be like running into a buzz saw. Worse yet, the Thunder potentially landing a top three pick in the 2026 NBA Draft would be a doomsday scenario for San Antonio.

The Thunder currently have a major leg up on the Spurs

The Thunder currently own a 2026 pick swap courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to the disastrous Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade. With the Clippers currently having the sixth-worst record in the NBA, it's not far-fetched for their pick to end up being a high lottery selection.

After all, San Antonio had the eighth-worst record in the NBA last season and ended up with the second overall pick, which they used to draft Dylan Harper. If the Thunder somehow end up with one of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, or Cam Boozer, it would be a nightmare for the Spurs and the rest of the NBA.

Those three headline the 2026 NBA Draft and could each be multi-time all-stars. Normally it's a big market team that seems to have an embarrassment of riches, but the Thunder are so well run that they are the second smallest market in the NBA and are dominating in all areas.

Spurs have a possible silver lining in a OKC doomsday scenario

That doesn't bode well for a potential Spurs dynasty, though that scenario does come with a potential silver lining. With OKC already well established, they likely wouldn't be the ideal team for a young top prospect looking to make it in the NBA.

They would be the fourth option at best, and the Thunders' hierarchy could cause some friction. It would be a fascinating scenario were it to occur and actually mirrors the Spurs' situation with them already having De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle and then drafting Dylan Harper.

The Spurs don't have a clear-cut third star and haven't already won a championship, so they don't yet have that problem. The Thunder might, however, if they continue to dominate and the Clippers continue to struggle. Them ending up with a high lottery pick could make an already scary team scarier and should be something the Spurs and the rest of the NBA hope doesn't happen.