The Thunder are officially back in Oklahoma City. Monday felt like a reunion of sorts as Mark Daigneault and every player but one gathered with members of the OKC press for the 2025 Thunder Media Day. The lone missing player was Kenrich Williams, as it was announced earlier in the morning that Mr. Hustle would be having an arthroscopic procedure on his knee done later in the day.
I sat second row in the media room for all 17 interviews and have gathered the best quotes from the day.
Mark Daigneault: “One thing we have to caution against is that anything from last year carries over."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “Everyone in the world that watches basketball can see that Chet isn't even a fraction of the player that he's going to be. He's made to play basketball. And he’s made to be successful at basketball.. On top of all the things that are God given and you can’t teach, he was a work ethic, he’s driven and he wants way more for himself.. The world is his oyster. He can do whatever he wants.”
Lu Dort: “Try our best to approach it the same way as the last few years. Not really get into what others say. We’ll try our best to get better. And we’ll see where we end up.”
Jalen Williams: “Getting the notoriety is not something that I’m playing for. My job defensively is being on time and I'm doing the right things for my team. And if people see it, they see it. And if they don't, they don’t.”
Chet Holmgren: "I feel like every team understands they need to get better and we're no different.. I think that's what we have to focus on."
Alex Caruso: “We have to have the self awareness that playing with a target on your back this year will be a different.”
And I thought the following words from two of OKC’s big men were the best soundbites from the day.
Jaylin Williams: “The way I’ve looked at the NBA and my journey in the NBA and my journey in college is that everything is a blessing... Every time I step on the court, every time I tie my shoes, every time I do anything, I’m blessed to be there. If I’m sitting on the bench... I’m blessed to be there.. I love our team.. I’m blessed to even be in this arena in the first place.”
Isaiah Hartenstein: “When I first got here, Sam Presti took us to the Memorial. Going through that and seeing what the city has been through... I think the city came together.. For me, after seeing that, I really wanted to uphold the Oklahoma standard and be ingrained in the community and find ways to make a real impact. I’m not just trying to drop off a check and say ‘here you go’. For me, it’s ‘how do I make a long lasting impact?’”
What stuck out to you from Monday? What was your favorite quote? Let us know in the comments.