Fresh off guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship, head coach Mark Daigneault met with the media ahead of the 2025-26 season for Thunder media day. His remarks underscored both excitement and caution, highlighting the team’s growth, the importance of stability, and the need to avoid complacency.
One of the most prominent topics was Chet Holmgren, who impressed in his return from injury last year but now enters the season with a full offseason of preparation. Daigneault praised Holmgren’s ability to maximize time away from games, noting his consistency in approaching development.
“He’s got a track record of productive offseasons,” Daigneault said. “The guys that are efficient and impactful are the ones that tend to have the runway for more, and he’s clearly shown to be both.”-
Daigneault emphasized that Holmgren’s growth has been rooted not only in overcoming setbacks but also in channeling success into further improvement, a rare skill for such a young player.
Naturally, much of the conversation shifted to the Thunder’s new standing in the league. After signing their three core stars to long-term deals and drawing national television attention, the Thunder are no longer underdogs.
But Daigneault was quick to push back against the idea of changing the formula.
“The circumstances are always changing year to year…We try to have a very consistent and stable approach,” he said.-
Instead of focusing on external labels like “defending champs,” he stressed the team’s commitment to timeless principles: presence, daily habits, and continuous improvement.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP and Finals MVP, remains the centerpiece of Oklahoma City’s rise. While his on court dominance is well documented, Daigneault offered insight into the less visible side of his star’s journey.
“A lot of his work is in the invisible spaces,” he said. “Improvement is a skill…and he’s displayed that time and time again.”-
Daigneault credited Gilgeous-Alexander’s process and vision as the foundation for his steady rise to superstardom.
Injury management also drew attention on media day. Particularly with players rehabbing over the summer. Daigneault praised their professionalism in maintaining offseason routines despite physical limitations, noting the mental toughness required to stay consistent under constraints.
“Even in the face of a rehab, it doesn’t change the offseason process,” he said, calling it a marker of maturity.-
Asked about how his life had changed since winning a championship, Daigneault remained grounded. “Not much,” he admitted, pointing instead to his growing family as the most meaningful shift. Though he acknowledged being recognized more in public, he brushed it aside as secondary to the work at hand.
When pressed about the uniqueness of this group, Daigneault emphasized the fluidity of NBA seasons but returned to the same guiding themes: adaptability, stability, and reinvestment in fundamentals. He cautioned against assuming that last season’s success automatically carries forward, underscoring the need to “rebuild habits and reinvest in fundamentals.”
Finally, Daigneault praised the team’s defensive versatility, spotlighting players who can take on tough matchups and unlock lineup flexibility. In his eyes, adaptability on both ends of the floor remains central to the Thunder’s identity.
As Oklahoma City begins its title defense, Daigneault’s message was clear and align with GM Sam Presti’s: past accomplishments mean little without present focus. The Thunder may have reached the NBA’s summit, but for their coach, the real work has only just begun.