Sitting atop the NBA throne, the Oklahoma City Thunder have turned the rest of the league into cynics. The reigning NBA champion has one-upped themselves from last year’s historic campaign. They sit at a historic 24-1 record with a plus-17 point differential.
The Thunder have led by 20-plus points in more total minutes this season than trailing. After bringing home a Larry O’Brien trophy last year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company look ready to add a second to their trophy case as the consensus favorite.
Oh, and by the way, the LA Clippers could gift them the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. Thanks to a first-round swap that stems from the league-altering Paul George blockbuster deal from six years ago.
All that said, it shouldn’t be a shocker to see the Thunder ranked as the runaway best NBA front office in a recent ‘The Athletic’ poll of 36 league executives. They received 31 first-place votes, three second-place votes and two third-place votes.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti is one of the longest-tenured at his spot for a reason. He was named the GM in 2007. Since then, he’s built up two title contenders manned by some of the league’s best players over the last two decades. The only goal that was left on his resume was a ring, which he acquired this past summer.
The Thunder were also ranked in first place last year in the same poll results. That’s what happens when you build up one of the NBA’s greatest teams with mostly homegrown talent. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams were additions from the 2022 NBA draft class.
The rest of the roster is littered with second-round picks or undrafted players who have hit a home run in their player development. Look at Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell.
And while the Thunder normally don’t go big-fish hunting, their 2024 additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso have been awesome fits. Both veterans helped them in their championship run.
The luxuries keep on piling. Thanks to the draft capital they added over the years, they have a solid chance to continue to receive lottery picks from other teams. That will be the lifeblood for the Thunder to lengthen their championship window. The rich will get richer.
“The best-ever job of acquiring future assets while dominating in the present,” one voter told The Athletoc. “Usually, those two are a little exclusive when you’re talking about championship-level teams. Presti is just the preeminent GM in the league.”