The Oklahoma City Thunder held training camp on Friday. It was their fourth and final day of the week-long practices. They will soon head out on the road to face the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday in a back-to-back.
The reigning NBA champion starts their title defense soon. Expect the rest of the league to circle their dates against them this upcoming season. After camp, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein talked to the media.
Daigneault discussed a group of NBA referees visiting to explain the new rules. Gilgeous-Alexander talked about his all-time status after he captured one ring. Hartenstein talked about the offseason improvements Chet Holmgren has made.
Here’s what else happened at the Thunder’s 2025-26 training camp on Friday:
SGA on his parade photo that went viral of The OKC Memorial being in the background: “It was crazy. I didn’t plan it or anything so I didn’t know. It was ironic how it worked out… I’ve gotten a bunch of requests to sign that photo… Some things in life are just meant to be.” pic.twitter.com/OFHIu2p29m
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
SGA on the reception of his SHAI 001 shoes: “It’s amazing. I have my signature shoe. To create it and make it is so fun and cool and in experience itself. But to have the rest of the world and people love it as much as I do is really special.” pic.twitter.com/x6m6SB4gsK
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
SGA on Nikola Topic: “He just understands how to play basketball, if I had to sum it up in one sentence. He sees the game, he’s posed, he has size and is strong.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
SGA on winning his 1st ring and chasing all-time greatness: “A step in the right direction for sure, without a doubt. All of the guys that I study, idolize, look up to, get to that level multiple times. There’s still a lot of work to do… I didn’t play basketball just to win one… pic.twitter.com/gD5euvPADr
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
SGA said he hasn’t seen the “Starting 5’ Netflix series he stars in yet. Wants to watch it when it drops with the rest of the fans: “Just give the world a little inside of my day-to-day.” pic.twitter.com/ifV2I0EZm8
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
SGA on his SHAI 001 shoes: “My strategy of being able to wear the shoe off the court has really helped. All you guys here don’t play basketball at the level I do. So you guys being able to wear it not playing basketball gives you a reason to go buy it. So go buy it.” pic.twitter.com/Ogji0HdVfa
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
Mark Daigneault on the training camp invitees: “They’re doing a great job. It’s a great group of guys… We try to get the guys in the mix with the Blue and Summer League.” pic.twitter.com/Aw1VCrFkba
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
Mark Daigneault has said Chet Holmgren has looked really good at training camp: “He comes out of the summer in shape and hungry and sharp.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
Mark Daigneault on NBA referees being at training camp: “It allows us to get a feel for how they’re going to call things. I think it’s good for them… It’s good relationship building. These are human beings and we’re human beings.” pic.twitter.com/HEs6nV3Q9R
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
Isaiah Hartenstein on entering his 2nd season on the Thunder: “OKC’s been great for me and my family. I think we have the same values of giving back and being humbled.” pic.twitter.com/ViNVrAtSya
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025
Isaiah Hartenstein on Chet Holmgren: “We’ve been working together all summer. I’ve seen the improvements he’s been making. He’s a guy that’s always working and improving. He’s one of our main guys for a reason.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025