The Daily Thunder Podcast

The Thunder are back, and Brandon Rahbar thinks this roster could be the best in the NBA again. But health, depth, and the right rotations will be key to another championship-level run.

John Napier and Brandon preview the season’s biggest Thunder questions: who starts and closes, how Mark Daigneault might use an 11-player rotation, and what the young players’ preseason performances mean for the roster. They also discuss Chet Holmgren’s shot-blocking outlook, Cason Wallace’s potential leap, and where Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic fit.

Plus, Brandon ranks the Western Conference contenders and makes predictions on SGA’s scoring, All-Star and All-NBA selections, the Thunder’s win total, and the impact of the league’s new emphasis on push-offs.

The 2026-27 is basically here, with Sam Presti speaking to the media last week, along with Media Day on Monday. Daily Thunder beat writer Brandon Rahbar was at both for DT, and he and John discuss thoughts from the first press availability of the season, including:

• Cason Wallace extension
• Is SGA finding new ways to improve, and is the team taking his contract for granted?
• Presti on Chet Holmgren's Western Conference Finals performance
• The impact of losing Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins
• Will Russell Westbrook get a statute in OKC?

The 2026-27 season is right around the corner, and what better way to get primed for the next season of Thunder basketball than to revisit Brandon's 26 Statements Made with Extreme Confidence made just before the 2025-2026 season.

Plus, Brandon and John discuss the Kawhi Leonard punishment, Cason Wallace's extension, and how to watch the Thunder this upcoming season.

Ryan and Cray vent session about Sam Presti's vent session about the Lu Dort trade. Or was this all a big misunderstanding?

• Presti's pulpit: The Oklahoman
• Blaming owners: What's the end game?
• Why Dort critics think we're overreacting

Show links:

• Our reaction post to the Dort trade

• Round-up Bolts after the deal

• Dynasties Ain't Cheap: OKC's Cap Crunch
• The Second Apron Storm
• Subscribe to the Daily Thunder newsletter

Host John Napier is joined by Daily Thunder beat writer Brandon Rahbar for a summer offseason check-in as they ask the big question: after a busy NBA offseason, did the Thunder stay ahead of the competition—or did the rest of the Western Conference close the gap?

The two break down Oklahoma City's roster moves, including the departures of Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Hartenstein's new contract, the returns of Kenrich Williams and Lu Dort, and why Cason Wallace remains one of the franchise's most important long-term pieces.

They also examine which Western Conference contenders improved the most, how major moves around the league affect Oklahoma City's championship outlook, and whether San Antonio has solidified itself as the Thunder's biggest challenger.

The episode wraps up with Summer League takeaways, including early impressions of Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, and Otega Oweh, why the Thunder's size and defensive versatility are so intriguing, and why patience is warranted when evaluating young players in July.

Ryan, Brandon, and Cray discuss the Thunder wheeling and dealing that has happened so far, and all the business yet to come.

• The Isaiah Hartenstein deal
• Updated impressions of OKC's draft picks
• Wiggins and Joe memories
• Cason Wallace's extension talks
• The Dort question
• Taxes, aprons, and the cap crunch - what really matters?

And much more on all things Thunder offseason.

Ryan and Cray take a deep breath...then let out all their frustrations.

• OKC's underwhelming return from the mega-hyped 2026 first round of the draft
• Brandon jumps in between radio duties to give us a splash of sunshine on Aday Mara's value at #12 and Bennett Stirtz's ability at #16
• Stuck at 12? Why the rumored Mavs trade seems farfetched in retrospect
• Not overreacting to what this means for OKC's other roster and cap decisions
• But WHAT DOES THIS MEAN for OKC's other roster and cap decisions?
• Cray's mispronunciations of several draftees
• Reading the Presti leaves moving into free agency
• The posture of Thunder ownership compared to other contending franchises

And much more. Listen and let it out with us.

Ryan and Cray are joined by first time guest Wes Hill to air out their reactions and predictions for the Playoffs, the Presti presser, and plans for the Thunder future.

Ranking offseason priorities:

• How will Cason Wallace’s long-term spot determinethe Thunder’s priorities for Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort?
• Can OKC work with Dort and iHart to find therole, salary, and/or Eastern Conference destination they want?
• Why paying everyone (and the tax) is the bestshort- and long-term asset play.

The draft and the youths:

• Should OKC target older *cough* Yaxel *cough* plug-and-play talent at #12 or #17?
• The juicy opportunities to move up in the firstround.
• Who will be on the 15-man roster between Nikola Topic,Jared McCain, Thomas Sorber, Pick #12, and Pick #17 (and Isaiah Joe, AaronWiggins, and Kenrich Williams)?

The Dialogue & The Machine:    

• Was Presti trying to work the refs, absorb some of the Shai hate, or do PR for a superstar?
• The tension between national and local media
• The impossible task of tuning out the dumbest,loudest diss-course online

Well, the Thunder suffered a heartbreaking defeat in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, and it didn't take long for the hot takes and overreactions to start flooding the internet. On this week's pod, host John Napier gets Daily Thunder beat writer Brandon Rahbar to blindly rank some of the worst overreactions. In addition, the pair break down Game 7, Brandon grades OKC's season, and predictions for The Finals are made.

We're joined by Austin from All Things Thunder to recap another disappointing road Game 6 for Shai and OKC.

• Shai's poor shooting and muted impact
• JDub's return
• Spurs outmuscling the Thunder
• The third quarter from hell
• Chet Rorschach test
• Who will start Game 7?

And all the rest from the Western Conference Finals.