We are at the halfway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, and we now have a good idea of what teams are true contenders. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are leading in the West, while the young Detroit Pistons are atop the East.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see either of those teams go far in the postseason, but NBA legend and analyst Charles Barkley believes there are only two teams that can win the NBA Finals.
Charles Barkley Thinks Thunder, Nuggets Ahead of the Pack
On Saturday’s “Inside the NBA,” the crew was discussing which teams can realistically win the title. Teams like the Thunder, Pistons, Denver Nuggets, and Boston Celtics are logical options, but Barkley thinks two teams clearly stand out above the rest. Barkley stated that he believes the Thunder and Nuggets are the only teams that can win it all.
“In my opinion, there’s two teams that can win the NBA Championship,” Barkley explained. “I look at the Denver Nuggets and the OKC Thunder as the two teams that will separate themselves.”
It’s not surprising to hear Barkley name the Thunder and Nuggets. The Thunder have an NBA-best 37-9 record. Per NBA Advanced Stats, the Thunder are third in net offense rating and first in net defense rating. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are 31-15 and in third place in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are second in net offense rating and 22nd in net defense rating.
More impressively, the Nuggets have been without Nikola Jokic since late December and are still racking up wins. Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson have all missed time as well, so there’s reason to think the team can hit another level when fully healthy.
The Pistons have been one of the best teams in the league, but they are young and don’t have much playoff experience. Perhaps Barkley thinks the team is one move, or one year, away from being a true contender.
Thunder Looking to Repeat as NBA Champions
The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the 2025 NBA Finals. The team hasn’t looked any worse this season, either, and has a great chance of repeating as champions.
If the Thunder go back-to-back, they will be the first team to do so since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been outstanding again, averaging 32.3 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Will the Thunder be able to repeat, or will another team make a bold move in a big way to dethrone the defending champs?
