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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing for their 2026 NBA playoff journey, aiming for back-to-back championships. They will face either the Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors as their first opponent.
Apr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) heads down the sideline after a three-point basket in the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Only a couple of days remain until the Oklahoma City Thunder start their 2026 NBA playoff journey. If they hope to go back-to-back, the first of four opponents will be against either the Phoenix Suns or the Golden State Warriors.
It's another play-in tournament week where the Thunder wait around to figure out their next opponent. It's the rare downside to getting the first seed. But at this point, OKC should be used to this routine with its third straight year as the West's No. 1 seed.
Going back-to-back would put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into some all-time conversations. Already one of the NBA's faces of the 2020s, he could pencil his name next to guys like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant with another repeat of last year's achievement — if he's not there already.
Despite what's at stake, Gilgeous-Alexander is playing it cool about the appeal of another championship ring. He knows we're still a ways away from now and reaching that point. The next couple of months will take years off most folks' lives just from the pure stress.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face either the Phoenix Suns or the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
A back-to-back championship would solidify Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's legacy, placing him among NBA legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for three consecutive years.

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"It's not much. It’s a cool opportunity. I think going through last year and realizing that’s so far down the line. So many things have to happen before we get to the Finals-clinching game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's cool. It's an opportunity. To have the opportunity to repeat means we've won before, so it's cool. So many things have to go our way."
Probably the right mindset to have. Looking that far ahead is exactly how you get bounced early in the NBA playoffs. Granted, the Thunder's path looks considerably easier this year compared to last — at least on paper. They'll be heavily favored against whoever emerges as the eighth seed. And then what awaits them is a depleted Los Angeles Lakers or inconsistent Houston Rockets.
By the time the Western Conference Finals roll around, the Thunder should face either a beaten-up San Antonio Spurs or Denver Nuggets. Of course, let's see how things actually play out. There's a reason basketball is played on the court and not on paper. But it's easy to say that the playoff bracket has broken right for OKC.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays it cool about OKC's back-to-back hopes