Lowe show asks which West team can push Spurs, Thunder by April

15-team rapid-fire run with Rob Mahoney

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 221 min read

San Antonio SpursNBA

We go rapid-fire through all 15 West teams -- and try to answer one recurring question: Which team might emerge in April

What happened: Zach Lowe and Rob Mahoney covered all 15 Western Conference teams in rapid-fire format. They framed April as the test for whether any challenger can close on San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

Why it matters: San Antonio and Oklahoma City set the West benchmark after Spurs eliminated Thunder to reach the Finals last spring. Identifying a third challenger shapes seeding, second-round matchups and deadline priorities entering 2026-27.

What to watch: Training camp and the opening weeks of 2026-27 will show which projected challenger separates from the West pack.

Sources

@ZachLowe_NBA Sep 22, 6:29 PM ET

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Lowe show asks which West team can push Spurs, Thunder by April

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