It’s less talked about this season because there are other reasons to celebrate for the Thunder, currently 8th in the West with a 34-35 record. However, the treasure of Sam Presti is still there: nearly 25 picks in the next four drafts, including 13 in the first round. In the eyes of the rookie Jalen Williamsit’s as if the Oklahoma City architect was assembling a small collection.
In the past year alone, the franchise signed four very promising players to the draft. Chet Holmgren (2), Ousmane Dieng (11), Jalen Williams (12) et al Jaylin Williams (34) thus all joined the adventure at the same time – it quickly ended for Holmgren, injured. This particular method of construction characterizes the Thunder perfectly.
“It was cool to be called up with Chet (Holmgren) and Ousmane (Dieng). Then they chose Jaylin Williams. It was a cool, surreal moment. I think it’s come full circle, because I had a really good workout in Oklahoma. There was a good atmosphere. When I was there, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad place to be drafted from. I enjoyed the visit. »
“(Sam Presti) wants us all to come together and go through this process together, while learning. It’s a bit like collecting Pokemon cards, in the sense that we’re all young and going on this journey together.”summarized Williams, in an interview for HoopsHype.
Frenchman Olivier Sarr finds a place at the Thunder
This is not the first year of Presti with this modus operandi. Since the departure of Russell Westbrook and of Paul George, the Thunder clicked the “rebuild” button. And although there was a year of transition with Chris Paul in 2019-20, the team has only gotten younger since.
This year, Oklahoma City is therefore the group with the lowest average age (22.6). Still, the franchise is on the brink of the playoffs, in the race with teams like the Mavericks and Lakers. Led by a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander All-Star, she chose not to tank.
“Coming to the NBA, I don’t know anything about the league. So I didn’t think we would be a tanking team or anything. We are a competitive group”assured Jalen Williams.
“I thought from the start that we would have a good year, given that we get along well on and off the pitch. The other day we threw a party for Shai (for his selection to the All-Star Game). I think a lot of teams don’t do that kind of stuff. We are always there for each other. I think our camaraderie has united us. »
Josh Giddey, the other nugget of the Oklahoma City Thunder
