With one of the most anticipated seasons in Oklahoma City Thunder history rapidly approaching, Mark Daigneault, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and others took the podium for media day on Monday.
No breaking news was shared and no starting lineup announcements were made, but one message was made clear by every player and available coach — nothing has changed from last season.
From the outside looking in, nothing could be further from the truth. The Thunder added two of the best defenders in the league, traded Josh Giddey and made by far the biggest free agency move in team history.
Regardless, the feeling within the Thunder organization is clear — do what got us here and the rest will take care of itself.
“It doesn’t change anything for us,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Our biggest focus has been always day-to-day and trying to get better every day, better than you were yesterday. I think that’s why we got to where we were last year and I think us not changing our mentality and keeping that the same is in our best interest.”
Per usual, Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be the heartbeat of the team and everyone who followed him reiterated the same sentiment.
Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates can operate under the same “process over outcome” mindset internally that they did when OKC was picked to get last in the Western Conference a just few years ago, in fact they probably should, but the pressure cooker is undeniably turned on in OKC for the first time since Media Day was headlined by a hooded Carmelo Anthony.
Only time will tell if the Thunder sticks to its cool and calm demeanor, but as of now, it is business as usual in the 405.
Notable quotes from Media Day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso will help defense
“Half of defense is getting the rebound and securing the ball, so I think getting better in that area will for sure help us. Limiting teams second-chance points. I think as long as we remain disruptive, remain physical and try to keep teams uncomfortable. I think our two additions that you mentioned there are guys that really fit right into that identity defensively.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how Isaiah Hartenstein can help as a screener
“Yeah. Great screener, physical screener, he’s obviously a lob threat with his size, he has a float game, he can play in the pocket. He’s smart and mobile, he knows how to read and make plays. He can play in the pocket and make the next play. I think he’s really versatile as a screener.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on swapping out Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso
“Bittersweet for sure. Obviously two different players. Josh helped our team in amazing ways. Josh was my backcourt mate for some time too. His special vision and passing and his size for position will be missed. He’ll bring that to Chicago at a high level. He’ll flourish and be who he’s supposed to be.”
“And then AC. We all know what he does. He’s the only guy on this team who’s won so he’s gonna bring that right away, bring that knowledge. And then what he does on the floor, he’s obviously special defensively”
Chet Holmgren on playing against Hartenstein and Caruso
“I have first person experience on them being great defenders. They did really good things for their teams last year and they’re going to do great things for us this year, that’s why we brought them in. We believe in them as players and they are going to do what everyone else is doing which is buying into what we’re trying to do as a team. It’s hard to win games, especially big games, especially playoff games, which we aspire to do if you can’t play defense.”
Chet Holmgren on playing with Isaiah Hartenstein
“It’s important to always try and visualize and see situations that you could be in before you’re in them so you can prepare for them and practice for them, but we haven’t had a single team practice. We haven’t had a single day of training camp. I know we’re not closed-minded on what we’re going to do, coach isn’t, nobody in the building is. We’ve got to get in there and figure out what’s best for us as a team and what’s going to work now and long term for us. There’s no decisions made on what we’re going to do or how we’re going to do it.”
Jalen Williams on Alex Caruso
“I think AC does everything right. He just plays the right way which is kind of a rare thing in basketball in general. Just somebody that, I don’t want to say fits into a role, but just whatever he’s asked he’s going to be good at doing.”
Jalen Williams on being a trendsetter in basketball fashion
It’s cool. I think that anytime that people notice something that you think is cool and they think its cool too, that’s a very special thing, because you can definitely do something and people don’t like it. For the most part I think people have liked what I’ve done. It’s kind of just like me expressing myself. I think it gives people a voice to do the same thing for them. I know that’s how I felt looking up to certain athletes growing up. It kind of inspires you to do your own thing, you know, take the same path they did. It’s something I don’t take for granted. My parents were always big on ‘you never know who’s watching,’ so a lot of times I try and do that.”
Jalen Williams on playing Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein together and how it will work
“I have no idea. We will probably get some rebounds, which hasn’t happened in a while. In terms of rotation stuff, I leave that up to the coaches. I think it will be interesting to see how the coaches draw up different combos and lineups. We’ve never really had this type of versatility.”
Alex Caruso on how he can help the Thunder
“I think something that comes naturally to me is playing defense. That’s how I had to make my name in this league, that’s how I had to earn minutes. I went from stealing minutes as a two-way to an all-defensive team. It’s just about being competitive and trying to do a better version of self. I think just teaching the guys whatever knowledge that I’ve learned from older players and coaches and being vocal. That’s something that comes pretty naturally pretty easy to me. I learned from some of the greats in LeBron (James) and (Rajon) Rondo.”
Alex Caruso on the high external expectations
“I’m excited to be a part of a group of hungry individuals. I feel like all these guys, even with some of them reaching success at a young age, they’re all very hungry, really excited to get back and play basketball again this year. That’s something I love, because that’s what I’m about. Every year I’m trying to get better. I want more, I want to do more. As far as expectations it goes back to the question earlier. It’s the NBA. Everyone starts 0-0.”
Isaiah Hartenstein on the 0-0 mentality in OKC
“That’s kind of how I approach life in general. Everyday you start off 0-0. It’s just good to see that the franchise is on that same level. Everyday is a new day, it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday, you start off 0-0.”
Isaiah Hartenstein on the percentage of games he thinks he will start
The correct answer is to ask Mark (Daigneault). I can tell you a random number, but I don’t know, ask Mark.”