Sam Presti orchestrated Oklahoma City’s inaugural NBA championship team through a distinctive strategy, prioritizing internal development over major trades or free agency splurges.

Despite maintaining the same coaching staff and many of the players who won only 24 games four years ago, the Thunder achieved the championship.

“We have people from Canada, Serbia, the West Coast, the East Coast, middle America, France, Australia, that all come together for a collective goal,” Presti remarked. “There’s compassion on the team. There’s a cowboy toughness, a self-reliance that comes from being homegrown, and an essential sense of goodness.”
Translation: Presti emphasized the diverse backgrounds of the players contributing to a unified team spirit.

This season’s Finals MVP was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Jalen Williams made a significant impact despite playing with an injury. Chet Holmgren’s season was hindered by a pelvic injury that kept him off the court for 50 games.

Presti noted that setbacks presented opportunities for growth and that many players excelled during their increased playtime.

“If you want to be the exception, you have to be willing to be exceptional,” Presti stated, highlighting the importance of unorthodox strategies.
Translation: Presti underscored the need for extraordinary efforts to succeed in unique ways.

Coach Mark Daigneault’s unconventional rise from G-League coach to champion is notable as well. Presti acknowledged Daigneault’s improvements and his ability to help the team stay focused amid challenges, such as early playoff defeats.

During the title chase, veteran additions like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein played crucial roles, which led to Presti being honored as Executive of the Year.

Looking forward, Presti indicated a commitment to consistent growth and preparation, noting that no team has repeated as champions since Golden State in 2017 and 2018:

“We’ll have to put our head down. We’re not entitled to anything… We’re going to have to stack days in order to stack seasons.”
Translation: Presti emphasized the necessity of continuous hard work and improvement to sustain success.