The Spurs can snatch another accomplishment away from the Thunder

The Spurs dethroned Oklahoma City as the Western Conference champions last May, beating them in a nail-biting seven-game series. But they have a chance to snatch another major accomplishment from their biggest rival: San Antonio can overtake the Thunder as the NBA's best defensive team next season.

Regardless of how much you may hate OKC's playing style, they've been dominant on that end for a while. They ranked first in rating over the last two consecutive seasons and are the only team to do so in the 2020s. Their physical, take-no-prisoners approach led them to a couple of Western Conference Finals appearances and a championship in 2025.

But things are shaping up to look different next season. The Spurs are stacked with talent on that end, so they have exactly what they need to knock OKC off its throne.

The Spurs have the NBA's scariest perimeter defense

When it comes to guarding the perimeter, there isn't a team in the league more intimidating than San Antonio. You can start with Stephon Castle, who should be hungry to make his first All-Defensive Team next season. He's one of the NBA's best point-of-attack defenders, as he slowed down players like SGA, Luka Doncic, and Cade Cunningham in head-to-head matchups.

Devin Vassell was another great defender for the Spurs last season, especially in the playoffs, where he established himself as one of the best 3&D wings in the NBA. Fans can also be excited about the leaps Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper can make after showing some promise on that side of the floor in their rookie years.

It's hard to talk about San Antonio's perimeter defense without also mentioning Victor Wembanyama. After having some issues in the NBA Finals, he should be much better at guarding quicker players outside the three-point line to complement his elite shot-blocking.

San Antonio has a scary combination of size, length, and grit that will make them tough to score on next season. Above all else, they'll be even more polished defensively after gaining some much-needed experience in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

OKC's loss of Lu Dort will hurt them

The Thunder's loss of Lu Dort does leave a noticeable gap in their defensive attack. Sure, they won't completely fall off on that side of the floor, but not having him on the roster anymore is a big deal. He was one of their best stoppers, using his physicality to agitate opposing ball-handlers.

The Spurs, on the other hand, retained all of their key defenders this summer while adding some more talent to the mix. They picked up Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Quaintance out of the draft, and if health permits, they can both play a big role in slowing down opponents. Don't forget about Tobias Harris, who has proven to be solid on that end throughout his career.

So while the Thunder lost one of their most important stoppers, the Spurs brought all of theirs back along with some reinforcements. The scale is about to tip in their favor, reclaiming their title as the NBA's most dominant defense for the first time in a decade.

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