Stacking Days
“Keep your eye on the ball.” Sam Presti’s words echo through the halls of Thunder History. Shortly after that devastating 4th of July (or more aptly, the 4th of You Lie) in 2016, Presti walked into the offices of the Thunder Headquarters with a box of baseballs with the team’s logo on them. Placing one on each employee’s desk, the message was clear and concise: stay focused. What unfolded throughout the following seasons proved that this was understood. Russell Westbrook ascended to heights not seen since Oscar Robertson and not summited since. Presti, ever the wizard, acquired Hall of Famers Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to star alongside Westbrook. These years brought the biggest free agent signing in franchise history with Patrick Patterson, as well as promising prospects like Alex Abrines, Abdel Nader, and Terrance Ferguson. Alas, despite the best efforts, the team fell short. In 2019 came the dreaded hard reset. The auspicious young core of the Thunder’s infancy had grown. The wheels of time, ever turning, carried away the players of the inaugural Thunder era, leaving behind only memories. With a long road ahead, the team picked up their hard hats and began to work.
In the NBA, there are two paths from mediocrity to greatness: high-priced free agent signings or years of embarrassment in hopes of landing a touted draft prospect. Some, with no regard for the nucleus of a team, rely on their wallets and superstars’ ability to out-talent the opponent. Others hopelessly pray to the lottery ping pong balls and eighteen-year-olds to save them. Those who have courageously stood by this team through it all will be quick to tell you that the Thunder did neither; instead, they carved out a third path for themselves. The climb back has been marked by player development, commitment to the team over the individual, and prioritization of the person over the player. Naysayers will point out the ‘black-eye-of-the-league’ label that was circulated, the educated will rebut, highlighting the fact that it never truly stuck. Of the Thunder’s current roster, eleven players were either taken in the second round or went undrafted. Throughout the rebuild, the Thunder only experienced two losing seasons, and committed fans can remember that the mentality was never that of a loser. “Stacking Days” was the banner under which this team marched. Spurred by the belief that every day, every moment was an opportunity for growth, they kept their heads down and continued to work.
There were dark days, a 14-game losing streak, a 73-point defeat, and discouraging injuries. Outsiders said the plan wouldn’t be successful. Narrative writers said some improved players, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, should move on, citing development timeline differences. Astute trades acquired assets for both the present and the future, yet even this was met with cautionary tales of “you can’t possibly use all of these holdings.” Every step of the way, they faced opposition, disregard, and attempts to compromise what was growing. “You can’t have one eye on the clock and one eye on the destination. Presti reminded fans in his 2022 end-of-year press conference that “we need to have two eyes on the path for us to be successful. We’ll let other people watch the clock.” Other people’s opinions were never of concern. Inside the Thunder ION–OKC’s practice facility–there was never a culture of losing, but rather one of commitment. Regardless of the results, the mentality remained the same. Presti said it best in 2023: “if we have a calm persistence and the discipline to resist the path of least resistance, I think we will continue to make progress over the course of time.” Slowly, this effort was rewarded. 40 wins in the 2022-2023 season, then suddenly 57 wins in 2023-2024, and this year, 2024-2025, a league-best 68 wins. This stretch of improvement made the Thunder the only team in NBA history to have three consecutive seasons with double-digit win increases. After the season concluded, while reflecting upon what they had accomplished, head coach Mark Daigneault credited the team’s mental fortitude as a key component of their success. Yet a team as mature as this Thunder squad knew there was still more work to be done.
If you hadn’t put the pieces together by this point, I am one of the fans previously mentioned who has been here for and through it all. The Thunder came to town when I was 8 years old. I remember watching that 2012 team defeat the Spurs to advance to the Finals in my friend Johnny’s living room. I remember the James Harden ‘mom made pizza rolls’ meme. I remember watching the finals on a blowup projector screen in my backyard, and the pain of Miami’s big three overpowering our young core. There was hope of many more return trips, and disappointment when they never came. Collectively, we rallied around Russell Westbrook when he went forehead to forehead with the one who betrayed us, and collectively, we mourned when his time in Thunder blue expired, too. Watching every game of the rebuild afforded unique memories like the great white hope Aleksej Pokusevski, or Zavier Simpson’s hook shot. There was Moses Brown’s franchise single-game record of 23 rebounds, and the New Balance intern Darius Bazely. All of this was leading to something, building on itself. Yet, this has always been about more than moments or wins on a basketball court. It is about the community, about everyone involved. On a personal level, it introduced me to basketball. The vehicle that brought some of my great memories and treasured friends. It continues to connect me to people I love, though I may not see them as often as I once did. You see, that’s the beautiful thing about sports; it offers camaraderie in a world of rabid individualism. The Thunder’s hyper focus on the importance of the team only further cements the importance of “Us.” It is a concept that can carry you farther than you can carry yourself, but to be special takes commitment to the work. Civilizations are built on the premise of “us,” as trite as it may sound, watching teams succeed together centers us and reminds us that we can’t succeed alone.
On May 28th, 2016, inside Chesapeake Arena, Klay ‘Game 6’ Thompson delivered an all-time performance, hitting 11 threes and pouring in 41 points to force a game 7 in the Western Conference Finals. A game that his Golden State Warriors would go on to win and would later prove to be the end of the Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook era in Oklahoma City. Nine years to the day on May 28th, 2025, inside the renamed Paycom Center, the Thunder rewrote history. Clinching the Western Conference Finals in decisive fashion over the Minnesota Timberwolves and taking the franchise back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years. The swell of the Thunder’s defense, which dominated the league this season, was second only to the wave of emotions as last night’s events unfolded. As time expired and the roar of the crowd crescendoed, an overwhelming reality rose to the surface: “We’re back.” The journey has been more exacting and extensive than words, yet in two and a half hours on Wednesday night, so much toil came to fruition. This new Thunder team finally returned to the place the Thunder of old reached so long ago. However, as every member of the team who took the mic last night reminded us, mirroring the past was never the goal. Last night witnessed the Oklahoma City Thunder move a step closer to that ultimate goal. It is important to enjoy this one and reflect on the process that ushered in this moment, but Kobe Bryant said it best: “Jobs not finished.” There are more pitches still to face. Keep your eye on the ball and get back to work.
