Source: sports.yahoo.com
Oklahoma City Thunder have been handed the easiest schedule for the 2026/2027 NBA season. The strength of schedule (SOS) is calculated based on the combined expected or past win-loss records of upcoming opponents, as well as the number of back-to-back games.
One key reason behind this ranking is the Thunder themselves. When determining the strength of schedule for other teams, games against Oklahoma are included, which automatically makes their opponents’ schedules tougher. However, unlike other teams in the league, the Thunder do not play against themselves—this factor gives them a significant advantage in their own schedule.
Interestingly, the situation was completely reversed in the previous regular season, 2025/2026. According to ESPN data, Oklahoma had the second toughest schedule in the entire NBA that year. Despite this, the team managed to secure 64 wins, becoming only the third franchise in history to win 64 or more games in two consecutive seasons. Before them, only the Chicago Bulls (1996-1997) and the Golden State Warriors (2015-2017) had achieved this feat.
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