OKC Thunder - "Changing Basketball" like Moneyball
- Thread starter TomasM
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TomasM
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Sam Presti wins 2025 NBA Executive of the Year Award
This is his first time for Presti to win the award but he came in 2nd three times in the past. Last year the Thunder's coach won the Coach of the Year award by taking the team from a previous year record of 40 - 42 (just shy of making playoffs through the play-in) to a Western Conference first place of 57-25. The team; however, fell short when they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Dallas Maverick's due to a lack of size and experience. In the offseason Presti made sure to resolve these problems by acquiring Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls (for his intense defensive skills and previous NBA championship with the Los Angeles Laker) and Isaiah Hartenstein from the New York Knicks (for his size, passing, and scoring ability). These additions positioned the Thunder with all of the needed skills to compete with any team during the 2024-25 season. As a result, the team finished with a league leading 68-14 record (top 6 in NBA history) and an NBA best ever season leading point differential of 14.9 (a metric which has been the best indicator of team success and NBA championships). This was all accomplished while maintaining a league leading number of 1st round draft pics over the next five to seven years. Presti's ability to recognize exceptional talent coupled with the teams development strategy while maneuvering the team roster into a position of balanced success on both offense and defense is the biggest reason the team was able to have such a rapid and successful rebuild.
Presti is the Billy Beane (Oakland A's GM in Moneyball) of the NBA. The difference is that Presti has not only set records but has positioned the team to be a dynasty during the coming decade. Since his arrival in OKC he has produced more MVP's (by name) than any other team in the NBA over the last 25 years (with 3: Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook, and now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and only one other team has produced 2 (the Los Angeles Laker with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant). The team could of possibly had a 4th if the small market team were able to keep James Harden (later won MVP in Houston) who was drafted into the team but the team couldn't afford to keep him because of cost and the salary cap.
Going forward, the biggest problem will be keeping talent because of the high cost associated with success. Players that have developed will be approached by other teams with big contracts to lure them away from the Thunder. If the Thunder can identify the appropriate marketing techniques to build the teams financial strength then the team will be able to maintain developed players for longer periods while becoming the leagues largest cash cow. The style of the team is really the most entertaining because it combines feisty defense and dynamic offense that is similar to 80's style basketball with young fast elite college type players. I've also seen fans chiming in from Canada (due to Shai and Lu Dort being on the Canadian Olympic team) and from Germany because of Isiah Hartenstein. Alex Caruso has also brought interest from several markets (Los Angeles, Texas, and Chicago) and there are other young players from some big named universities and states where the fans often maintain a strong following.
If the team performs to it's ability Presti will be known as the greatest greatest general manager in NBA history and many already see him as being in that class.
This is his first time for Presti to win the award but he came in 2nd three times in the past. Last year the Thunder's coach won the Coach of the Year award by taking the team from a previous year record of 40 - 42 (just shy of making playoffs through the play-in) to a Western Conference first place of 57-25. The team; however, fell short when they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Dallas Maverick's due to a lack of size and experience. In the offseason Presti made sure to resolve these problems by acquiring Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls (for his intense defensive skills and previous NBA championship with the Los Angeles Laker) and Isaiah Hartenstein from the New York Knicks (for his size, passing, and scoring ability). These additions positioned the Thunder with all of the needed skills to compete with any team during the 2024-25 season. As a result, the team finished with a league leading 68-14 record (top 6 in NBA history) and an NBA best ever season leading point differential of 14.9 (a metric which has been the best indicator of team success and NBA championships). This was all accomplished while maintaining a league leading number of 1st round draft pics over the next five to seven years. Presti's ability to recognize exceptional talent coupled with the teams development strategy while maneuvering the team roster into a position of balanced success on both offense and defense is the biggest reason the team was able to have such a rapid and successful rebuild.
Presti is the Billy Beane (Oakland A's GM in Moneyball) of the NBA. The difference is that Presti has not only set records but has positioned the team to be a dynasty during the coming decade. Since his arrival in OKC he has produced more MVP's (by name) than any other team in the NBA over the last 25 years (with 3: Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook, and now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and only one other team has produced 2 (the Los Angeles Laker with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant). The team could of possibly had a 4th if the small market team were able to keep James Harden (later won MVP in Houston) who was drafted into the team but the team couldn't afford to keep him because of cost and the salary cap.
Going forward, the biggest problem will be keeping talent because of the high cost associated with success. Players that have developed will be approached by other teams with big contracts to lure them away from the Thunder. If the Thunder can identify the appropriate marketing techniques to build the teams financial strength then the team will be able to maintain developed players for longer periods while becoming the leagues largest cash cow. The style of the team is really the most entertaining because it combines feisty defense and dynamic offense that is similar to 80's style basketball with young fast elite college type players. I've also seen fans chiming in from Canada (due to Shai and Lu Dort being on the Canadian Olympic team) and from Germany because of Isiah Hartenstein. Alex Caruso has also brought interest from several markets (Los Angeles, Texas, and Chicago) and there are other young players from some big named universities and states where the fans often maintain a strong following.
If the team performs to it's ability Presti will be known as the greatest greatest general manager in NBA history and many already see him as being in that class.
TomasM
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- MBTI
- INFJ
OKC, "RATTLES," teams and players with their Aggressive Style
I don't see "MONSTERS" I see Angel Warriors. They love playing together and fight so that everyone on the team can be as successful as they commit to their success. If you work hard and perform when given opportunity - you will reap the rewards and success for that effort.
I don't see "MONSTERS" I see Angel Warriors. They love playing together and fight so that everyone on the team can be as successful as they commit to their success. If you work hard and perform when given opportunity - you will reap the rewards and success for that effort.