Superstar players on new teams and All-Stars sidelined by severe injuries have jumbled expectations, but Oklahoma City remains a championship favorite when when the NBA’s 80th season begins Tuesday.

The Thunder will raise a championship banner on Tuesday when Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets visit while the Los Angeles Lakers entertain the Golden State Warriors in the other opening-night clash.

“It would suck to lose the NBA championship in 2026,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “That’s the new focus. That’s the new goal.”

The 27-year-old Canadian guard was last season’s NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Finals MVP and league scoring leader with 32.7 points a game. The three-time NBA All-Star added 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocked shot a game.

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