Expected to be a classic battle between rivals Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA’s Western Conference Finals will also be historic, no matter what happens on the court.
Because in addition to being a matchup that pits the defending champions against a team on the rise, most feel will be a contender for years to come, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama going head-to-head takes it to another level.
The 2026 Western Conference Finals will pit the MVP vs. the DPOY
Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP for the second year in a row, and Wembanyama, the 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year, will provide the NBA a storyline the league hasn’t experienced since 2009. This third-round series marks only the seventh time the MVP’s team and the squad led by the Defensive Player of the Year meet in the playoffs.
The last such occurrence took place when LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers fell to Dwight Howard’s Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. It even occurred in the season prior in the 2008 NBA Finals, with Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers losing to Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics.
A series win for the Thunder would be even more historic for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A return to the NBA Finals for Gilgeous-Alexander would be the first series win for the MVP over the Defensive Player of the Year since 1996 – Michael Jordan furthered the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty by defeating Gary Payton and the Seattle SuperSonics.
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