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Spurs-Thunder opener offered a glimpse of the colossal challenge awaiting the Lakers

It is going to be a tough mountain to climb.
BySvyatoslav Rovenchuk
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Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Let us go through some definitely groundbreaking thoughts. The Los Angeles Lakers want to fancy themselves as a championship contender. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are also really good at basketball. There was a painful reminder of that on NBA Opening Night.

The Thunder flexed their might in the first half against the Spurs, taking a commanding 65-44 lead over the defending Western Conference champs. San Antonio pulled back in the third quarter to make it a ball game before Oklahoma City ultimately put things away and secured a 116-104 win.

Amid all that was a general feeling of awe over the elite teams in this matchup. Anyone watching the games could have felt it. Those are the juggernauts the Los Angeles Lakers will have to go through if they want to win an NBA championship in 2026-27.

Some will quickly say the Lakers are not ready to put themselves in that conversation. However, members of the franchise are the ones trying to invite those discussions. JJ Redick said it. Luka Doncic took out a full-page ad in the LA Times to discuss their desire to make a run at the title. Other players have said it, too.

For Doncic, Redick, and all those alike, that is certainly the right mindset to have. There is just no ignoring how fierce of a road it will be to achieve the lofty goals they have set for themselves.

Spurs and Thunder reminded Lakers how tough the championship path is going to be

Ryen Russillo perfectly captured the feelings around the opening-night classic between the Spurs and Thunder during his appearance on the Game Theory Podcast with Sam Vecenie. Russillo brought up comments that were texted to him in the second half from someone with another NBA team.

"I can't believe we have to play in the same league as these two teams."

That is what the anonymous NBA person told Russillo. Says it all, does it not?

The point of this all is not to dash hope around Los Angeles. However, the Lakers were clearly reminded themselves just how great they need to be in order to stand a chance in a seven-game series against either the Spurs or Thunder.

Depending on how the standings shape up by year's end, there is a very high probability the path to the Western Conference Finals goes through at least one of those teams, no matter which side of the bracket Los Angeles is on. Even if the Lakers are fortunate enough to see the Spurs and Thunder end up in a matchup before then, the road to the NBA Finals would almost surely feature one of them.

Doncic gives any team a puncher's chance in a postseason matchup. Redick is an excellent head coach. Those two things should give the Lakers a fair shot against almost anyone. To beat either the Spurs or Thunder, a ton will need to click beyond just that.

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