Thunder 2016-17 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions

Life after Kevin Durant will begin for the Oklahoma City Thunder next season, and their 2016-17 schedule was officially released Thursday. 

The complete schedule can be viewed here, courtesy of NBA.com. 

Durant bolted for the Golden State Warriors after coming within one win of reaching the NBA Finals, which leaves OKC with Russell Westbrook as the clear face of the franchise. His future with the team is far from certain, though, and there are plenty of questions surrounding his supporting cast.

Returning to the Western Conference Finals in 2016-17 will be a tall task for the Thunder without Durant, but here is a full rundown of their schedule and further examination of the games that promise to have the basketball world buzzing.

2016-17 Details

Season Opener: Oct. 26 at Philadelphia 76ers, 8 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: 40-1 (per Odds Shark)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

Top Matchups

Golden State Warriors

First Home Matchup: Feb. 11, 8:30 p.m. ET

Durant's decision to spurn the Thunder in favor of the Warriors was the biggest storyline of the NBA offseason, and his return to Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC will be the most anticipated game on the NBA schedule during the 2016-17 campaign.

KD had been the franchise guy ever since the Thunder moved to Oklahoma City, but he left in a manner that could be construed as taking the easy way out by joining a team stacked with All-Stars in an effort to win an elusive championship.

Durant took a huge part of OKC's sports identity with him to Golden State, and he admitted the decision to leave was tough for him due to the impact it had on the fans, according to Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman:

"

I understand. I understand where they're coming from. It hurt me. I was hurt for a few days because I know I hurt so many people in Oklahoma City by changing teams. Of course they're going to say what they have to say because everybody's emotional. I understand that. It's sports. It's a way to get away from the real world for a second. We provide that experience for them and I understand how they feel. I can't say anything to make them feel any different, but still just go out there and be who I am as a basketball player and a person and, like I said, life moves on.

"

The former NBA MVP dealt with guilt in some ways after signing with the Dubs, and he revealed it took him some time to muster up the courage to face the world after making such a controversial move, per ESPN.com:

"

For a few days after, I didn't leave my bed, because I was like, "If I walk outside somebody might just hit me with their car, or say anything negative to me." Like I said, I never had this reputation, and so many people who don't even watch basketball are telling me congratulations and good luck going forward. It's crazy how big I got and how big this got.

I mean, I've been somewhere for so long, and then to make a change like that, [which] nobody knew was coming, that nobody didn't think I would do, of course I didn't know how it would be received afterward. But at some point, I just said, "Look, man, life goes on. Life moves on, and I can't hide forever," so I just had to face it.

"

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Thunder fans are understandably upset, but they reportedly aren't the only ones miffed by Durant's departure.

According to Slater, a source said that Westbrook is "ticked off" about Durant leaving town rather than staying to finish what he started in Oklahoma City.

While Westbrook has developed into one of the NBA's best players, he was always overshadowed by Durant to some degree. He now has the spotlight all to himself, but the group of players around him leaves something to be desired.

Assuming it is largely healthy, Golden State will enter the game with a huge advantage, but there will be a special focus on the one-on-one battle between Westbrook and Durant.

Not only will this matchup be a great test for Westbrook in terms of proving that he is ready to lead a team on his own, but it will also give the Warriors a chance to show they can win a big game in a hostile environment following their roster makeover.

Orlando Magic

First Home Matchup: Nov. 13, 7 p.m. ET

While the Thunder tried everything within their power to keep Durant in OKC, they willingly turned the page on forward Serge Ibaka by trading him to the Orlando Magic on draft night, which brought back a return of guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and rookie big man Domantas Sabonis.

The Congo native experienced a drop-off in production last season in comparison to his previous three campaigns, which was apparently a sore subject between the two sides.

According to Chris Mannix of The Vertical, Ibaka's agent, Andy Miller, said the Thunder made promises to his client that they didn't keep: "There was an expectation of a larger role. It was overpromised and under-delivered. Everyone should be held to the same level of accountability across the board."

With the relationship between the two sides on the decline, Ibaka was shipped to the Magic, who now boast one of the NBA's most imposing frontcourts with Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo also in the fold.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Since Ibaka was traded rather than leaving on his own accord like Durant, it is unlikely that he'll get the same chilly reception from the Thunder faithful.

A longtime OKC star returning in a Magic uniform will still make for an odd dynamic, though, and he figures to have plenty to prove after feeling as though he wasn't properly utilized by head coach Billy Donovan last season.

Ibaka and Steven Adams formed a fearsome defensive duo in the paint for the Thunder last season, but they will go head-to-head when the Magic come to town in a physical matchup that could set the tone for the entire game.

Add in the storyline of former No. 2 overall pick Oladipo trying to prove to his old team that it gave up on him too soon, and there is plenty to like about this clash between two intriguing teams.

Record Prediction

The Thunder have a chance to be a playoff team in 2016-17 due to the presence of Westbrook, but the manner in which the other pieces fall into place will determine if they're capable of winning a playoff series or two.

With Westbrook as the go-to guy, he has a golden opportunity to win the MVP award. Of course, the possibility of a trade looms, as he could leave via free agency next offseason much like Durant did.

If OKC opts to keep Westbrook and play out the season, however, the focus shifts toward which players will step up and be solid complements to the former UCLA standout.

Oladipo is an obvious choice to fill the No. 2 role after averaging a career-best 17.9 points per game two seasons ago. Also, aside from Westbrook, big man Enes Kanter is the only returning player who averaged double digits in scoring last season at 12.7.

Oklahoma City needs Adams to progress as an offensive option after he put up 8.0 points per contest in 2015-16, while veteran Ilyasova and young guard Cameron Payne will likely be asked to step into greater roles as well.

The Thunder went 45-37 two seasons ago and narrowly missed the playoffs with Durant on the shelf for the vast majority of the year. While that would be a 10-win drop from last season, it would've been good enough for the No. 5 seed in the weakened Western Conference.

OKC has too many issues across the board to be considered a legitimate contender unless it makes a big-time trade between now and the start of the season, but thanks solely to the presence of Westbrook, it will manage to remain a playoff team in 2016-17.

Prediction: 44-38

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