The dreamy 2024-25 season was finally complete when the Oklahoma City Thunder won their first-ever NBA championship. Undoubtedly, a surreal moment for fans, who had waited a long time for it. GM Sam Presti and owner Clay Bennett deserved all the flowers for their perseverant approach.
A journey filled with several ups and downs, the Thunder hit the jackpot with the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade in 2019. GM Presti had found his franchise player and now looked to build a dynamic roster around him with the draft capital he had accumulated over the years.
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Getting closer to the Larry O’Brien trophy with each passing year, the Thunder sealed the deal in 2025. Leading his team to the “Promised Land”, SGA created history during the 2024-25 season, winning multiple MVPs and putting up one of the greatest scoring performances.
However, for Presti, what stood out most about Gilgeous-Alexander was his personality both on and off the court.
“It comes down to consistency. His humility to look at himself as a player honestly and figure out where he can improve. He’s not only emerged as a great player, but he’s emerged as a great leader,”said Presti.
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“He’s on an endless pursuit of how good he can be. I have so much trust in him as a person,” he added.
A trade that changed the landscape
Ahead of the 2019-20 season, the Thunder and the Clippers entered into a trade agreement. The deal involved OKC parting ways with Paul George in exchange for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five first-round picks. At the time, many felt the LAC pulled a masterstroke.
That said, the situation on the ground turned out to be completely different. While SGA emerged as a game-changer for the Thunder, PG failed to meet expectations on the Clippers. Thus, proving yet again why Presti is one of the best minds in the business.
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The Thunder GM did not succumb to the pressures of a win-now situation. Instead, he worked on a decade-long blueprint. Ultimately, staying true to the process led to the Oklahoma franchise earning its first championship banner, with the future looking as bright as ever.
Presti certainly takes great pride in Gilgeous-Alexander, considering how the 26-year-old has proven to be a revolutionary figure for the Thunder franchise. The veteran executive believes that there are other factors, apart from his skills, that make his game look so effortless.
Potential to be an all-time great
Shai no doubt put the league on notice with his performances during the 2024-25 season, earning comparisons to greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He possesses a rare skill set, whether it is his versatile scoring, controlled pace, crafty finishes, or shifty movement.
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Shedding further light on SGA’s deep bag, the Thunder GM described him as a basketball artist.
“I just think he’s got left and right brain working, and I think when you think about people that are extremely successful in what they do, they can’t operate all on one side or the other, People have to have, to me, the great people in life, business, sports, any industry, have to be able to access both sides, a creative side and then also a very objective side,” revealed the 2025 Executive of the Year.
“But what makes to me the greatest of the great are the people that have the emotional intelligence to decide when to call on each one of those,” added Presti.
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The Thunder GM surely gives a fresh perspective on SGA’s game, describing how his intelligence as a player helped him read the game better than most. While talent was one thing, utilizing it effectively is what separates a superstar from an all-time great.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.