ESPN: NBA Executive believes OKC Thunder's next great rival is against CBA

After winning an NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season as a popular pick to repeat. They had one of the greatest years ever with a historic 68-14 regular-season record and an all-time best point differential built up with frequent blowouts.

The celebrations didn't stop after their parade. The Thunder signed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren contract extensions that'll keep them together for the rest of the 2020s decade. Besides some bottom of the depth chart changes, OKC will run it back with the same group.

While some NBA teams spent their offseason upgrading their rosters, it sounds like the rest of the league is more interested in seeing how the Thunder can keep their roster together once the payroll dramatically increases starting in the 2026-27 season when Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren take up around 85% of the payroll.

In ESPN's latest "The Hoop Collective" podcast episode, Brian Windhorst revealed an interesting anecdote from an NBA executive. The decision-maker told the media personality in a tongue-in-cheek manner that the next great rivalry will be how the Thunder handles the CBA with their impending expensive roster.

“I was talking to an NBA executive the other day. He goes, ‘What are the great rivalries of the game today?’ And I’m like, ‘Boy, is this an August question. I need to come up with something," Windhorst said. "Then he’s like, ‘Well, I know what the next great rivalry is in the NBA… The Thunder vs. the CBA.”

That adds to the growing concerns that the Thunder may not be able to keep their roster together. The rest of the NBA will soon circle OKC like vultures to slowly see the NBA champion's window close. But their imaginations may be more colorful than reality.

Of course, the CBA isn't what the Thunder should be worried about. They're set there. Instead, it'll be the possible cap space limitations like a repeater's tax, along with the First and Second Aprons. Serving as a hard cap, the Aprons have allowed teams to spread the league's talent across teams.

We've seen that affect some teams already. The LA Clippers didn't bring back Paul George because of it. The Boston Celtics have shed Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday this offseason to save some money during their gap year next season.

For the Thunder, they're better set up than anybody else to fight the Second Apron limitations. They've already won a championship, which means this group has accomplished its goal already. And while the rest of the roster might change over time, the Big 3 being under contract for the next five-plus years gives you enough wiggle room to remain a contender as long as Williams and Holmgren take the next step in their development.

And then there's the pile of draft picks the Thunder sit on. They have the chance to get premium draft picks simultaneously with deep playoff runs. That's thanks to other teams gifting them picks. It's already happened twice in recent years. They were given back-to-back top-15 picks from the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat these last two drafts.

Of course, championship windows don't last forever. The Thunder will need to make some tough roster decisions next offseason with some of their role players. And there's no guarantee they win another championship because of other factors outside of their control.

But the NBA executive's opinion, even if it was just a joke, isn't a reflection of reality. As long as Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren remain healthy, they'll always be in the title conversations. That's how important it is to have multiple All-NBA-esque players on your roster.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: ESPN: NBA Executive believes Thunder's next great rival is against CBA