Poging GOUD - Vrij
Defending champion Thunder looking to reign in era of parity
Los Angeles Times
|October 21, 2025
One title isn’t enough for Oklahoma City, which is aware that dynasties are a rarity.
MATTHEW STOCKMAN Getty Images
OKLAHOMA THUNDER players exult after defeating Indiana for the NBA championship last season.
The defending NBA champions aren't thinking of themselves in that way.
The 80th season of the NBA starts Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder — the “defending” champions, even though they don’t seem to like the term — will get their rings and enjoy one final moment of celebrating last season's seven-game triumph over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.
“Everybody is saying ‘defending,’” guard Jalen Williams said, “but we're trying to be on the offensive as well.”
Translation: One title isn’t enough for the Thunder. They want more.
They are fully aware that this is the NBA's parity era— seven different franchises have won titles in the last seven years, a run unprecedented in league history. Commissioner Adam Silver has seen nine different franchises win in his 12 seasons leading the NBA; his predecessor, David Stern, saw eight different franchises win in his 30-year run as commissioner. The Thunder would like to be the ones to put at least a temporary halt to parity, and with basically everyone back from a 68-win team that won the crown last season, it’s easy to see why BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Thunder as favorites to win the 2026 title.
Dit verhaal komt uit de October 21, 2025-editie van Los Angeles Times.
Abonneer u op Magzter GOLD voor toegang tot duizenden zorgvuldig samengestelde premiumverhalen en meer dan 9000 tijdschriften en kranten.
Bent u al abonnee? Aanmelden
MEER VERHALEN VAN Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Ex-Harvard-Westlake star Jason Collins dies at 47
Jason Collins, the NBA's first out gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.
3 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
Hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise reaches 11 reported cases
A French woman infected in the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is critically ill and being treated with an artificial lung, a doctor at the Paris hospital caring for the sickened passenger said Tuesday.
3 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
Angels can’t find their footing in Cleveland
Cantillo tosses six scoreless innings as Guardians boost home record versus Angels, who notch 16th loss in 21.
1 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
OnlyFans creator pleads guilty to suffocating man
While an OnlyFans creator was focused on filming a BDSM fetish session for her followers — gluing women’s boots onto a man’s feet and binding him in Saran Wrap — he was suffocating to death.
2 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
Wall Street ends record-setting run
A sudden halt for technology stocks put the brakes on Wall Street’s record-setting run Tuesday.
3 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
L.A. quietly fires its chief heat officer
Marta Segura, first to fill the post created in 2022, says Mayor Bass didn’t explain ouster.
3 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
Lawmaker seeks information from OpenAl's Sam Altman
WASHINGTON — The chair of the House Oversight Committee has sent a letter to OpenAl Chief Executive Sam Altman requesting information about potential conflicts of interest between Altman's personal investments and his operation of the company.
2 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
Hegseth queried on Iran war cost and endgame
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced tough questions Tuesday from Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration’s endgame for the Iran war, the conflict’s rising $29-billion cost and its effect on diminishing U.S. weapons stockpiles.
3 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
Thunder rally late to push Lakers out
James had 24 points in what could have been his last Lakers game to close out series effort.
2 mins
May 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times
MALONE CHECKS IN ON THE MEN
Entertainer’s new album was inspired by her son and the world he'll inherit
5 mins
May 13, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size