When the Oklahoma City Thunder raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June, much of the attention was understandably directed toward their young stars and the architect behind their rise, General Manager Sam Presti.
Yet, beneath the surface of that title run lies a story about infrastructure, patience, and development. Specifically, the vital role played by the Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.
Unlike most of the teams in the league, the Thunder use the G League as it’s supposed to be used. For development.
During his preseason media availability, Presti was asked about the unique connection between the Thunder and their G League program. His answer underscored just how central the Blue has been in shaping not just the team’s roster, but the entire organizational culture.
“Well, that relationship has been extremely strong,” Presti explained. “We were one of the early, early entrants into the G League, I think one of the first four teams maybe. I might be wrong about that. And it’s that the Blue has taken on a lot of different evolutions in our time here.”-
Indeed, Oklahoma City has been ahead of the curve in investing deeply in its developmental affiliate. While some franchises initially treated the G League as an afterthought or a place to stash two-way players now, the Thunder committed to integrating it into their broader philosophy.
Presti pointed out that nearly 40 percent of the Thunder’s staff has spent time with the Blue. A staggering figure that illustrates how embedded the G League has become in the DNA of the franchise.
“It’s how we’ve done everything,” Presti continued. “I think it’s been a great development resource for our staff as well as our players themselves.”-
That dual emphasis, on staff and player growth, has proven to be one of the Thunder’s greatest competitive advantages. Many of the names Presti mentioned have become fixtures in the basketball landscape.
Nate Tibbetts, who once led the Thunder’s G League efforts, has carved out a strong NBA coaching résumé. Darko Rajaković, another product of Oklahoma City’s pipeline, is now the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
And, of course, current Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault sharpened his leadership with the Blue before taking over the NBA club. The developmental tree also includes assistants like Grant Gibbs and Kam Woods, who continue to shape the Thunder’s culture.
But the story doesn’t end with coaches. The G League has been a proving ground for players who might otherwise have struggled to find minutes on a competitive NBA roster. It has allowed the Thunder to experiment, teach, and test players in real game environments without the pressure of the NBA spotlight.
For a franchise that has leaned heavily on drafting and internal growth rather than splashy free agency moves, this pathway has been indispensable.
Presti emphasized that Oklahoma City’s use of the G League is no longer unusual, most franchises have now followed a similar blueprint.
“I think every team is seeing that now. I don’t think it’s novel. I think most teams are operating in that fashion, as it should be,” he said.-
Still, he was quick to highlight its larger impact on the NBA as a whole:
“When you talked about big advancements for the league, I left that out. I should have talked about that. The G League is a massive accelerator for the NBA. It’s a huge component to the development of young players and so many of the great players today have played down there.”-
In other words, the G League is not just a minor-league system. It is a laboratory for innovation, a training ground for staff, and a launching pad for players. Its value is reflected in the Thunder’s championship, which might not have been possible without the years of work done with Oklahoma City’s smaller pro team.
As the Thunder prepare to defend their title, the lessons and leadership cultivated in the G League will remain a core part of their identity. In a league increasingly defined by player development and adaptability, Oklahoma City’s commitment to the Blue has made them not only champions, but also a model for sustainable success.