The last dynasty the NBA has seen is the Golden State Warriors. They won four titles in seven years, including back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018.
That dynasty was led by Stephen Curry on the floor, with other All-Stars such as Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Andre Iguodala filling crucial roles.
Steve Kerr’s system combined the team’s shooting talent with unpredictable ball and off-ball movement, reshaping the NBA.
However, one former Warriors star, DeMarcus Cousins, believes the Oklahoma City Thunder have the chance to outlast that dynasty.
The Thunder currently reached the NBA Finals and will face the Indiana Pacers to try to capture their first title in the Oklahoma City era.
“It’s absolutely the start of the dynasty. I think it’s a dynasty that’ll be even more powerful than what we saw with the Warriors,” Cousins said on Run It Back Podcast.
“And the reason I say that, when the Warriors were in their heyday and they had everything rolling, they never had the assets that this Thunder team has,” Cousins explained.
“This Thunder team probably built to be successful for the next 10, 12 years, which is unheard of in the NBA,” he added.
Cousins points to specific reasons behind his bold prediction. He believes the main factor isn’t only the young core the Thunder possesses, but also their unprecedented asset collection.
Beyond three picks this year, including the 15th and 24th overall selections, OKC also holds six first-round picks through 2031. That represents valuable currency they can use for trades to acquire depth or replace injured players.
“They have all the assets coming up. They run into an injury, they have the assets to go get another superstar to replace an injury,” Cousins said.
“I think that they’re the model right now. I think a lot of teams will start trying to copy the model, or this blueprint that they’ve put out collecting all these assets, building up young players, especially for these smaller markets,” he explained.
Like the Warriors and Steph Curry at the beginning of their dynasty era, the Thunder also have an MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, another All-Star in Jalen Williams, and promising players in Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort.
The comparison to Golden State’s early dynasty years feels appropriate given both teams’ combination of elite talent and strategic depth.
However, Cousins argues Oklahoma City’s asset management gives them advantages the Warriors never possessed during their peak years when they lost the chance to get another ring due to injury.
