Former NBA guard Jeff Teague says the Oklahoma City Thunder will dispatch the Los Angeles Lakers in five games but expects one win for LeBron James — and he pinned that lone victory squarely on James’s ability to change a series on his own. Teague, speaking via NBA on ESPN before Tuesday’s opener, forecast a 4-1 Thunder series win while giving the Lakers “one game” out of respect for James’s pedigree.
“I got it 4-1 OKC. I think LeBron [James is] good enough to get one game. Just ’cause he’s my GOAT,” Teague said. He praised Oklahoma City as “just a machine,” citing the Thunder’s collective toughness, defensive intensity and deep rotation as reasons he doesn’t see the series lasting long. “The way they’re put together. The way they play together. They play for one. Defensively, they get after it. I think they’re going to pressure LA full‑court the whole series, and I think they’ll wear them down a little bit.”
Teague singled out Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander as a major factor in OKC’s advantage, calling him “the best player in the league, arguably.” That reflects a broader narrative heading into this second‑round matchup: Oklahoma City finished the regular season as the Western Conference’s top seed and swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round, while the Lakers advanced by closing out the Houston Rockets in five games.
The Thunder opened the series with a Game 1 victory at Paycom Center, and Chet Holmgren — in only his third career playoff appearance — embraced the chance to match up with James. Holmgren led OKC in Game 1 with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks and offered a lighthearted take when asked if he ever expected to play LeBron in the playoffs. “Maybe with him coaching or something,” Holmgren joked on NBC/Peacock’s NBA Showcase. “It’s fun to go at it with great players, and he’s one of them.”
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Teague’s projection balances two common currents in recent playoff coverage: respect for the Thunder’s depth and youth-driven energy, and an enduring belief that James can flip a game even against superior rosters. Analysts who see the Thunder ending the series quickly point to OKC’s rotation of high‑energy defenders and multiple shot creators; those predicting at least one Lakers victory emphasize James’s playoff experience, playmaking and ability to lift supporting casts on any given night.
Oklahoma City will host Game 2 at the Paycom Center on Thursday, seeking to build a commanding 2‑0 lead before the series shifts to Los Angeles. Key storylines going forward include whether the Thunder’s planned full‑court pressure will consistently disrupt the Lakers’ half‑court sets, how effectively LA can get James the touches and spacing he needs, and whether Holmgren and the Thunder’s young core can sustain the production they showed in Game 1.
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Teague’s 4‑1 call underscores how the Thunder are viewed around the league — as a deep, defensively voracious team expected to advance — while also acknowledging that LeBron’s singular influence makes a sweep unlikely.
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