The Sam Presti Effect

An essay touching on one of the sharpest basketball minds.

I. A Defining Moment

There are specific moments that define directors, athletes, and baristas. While these are just three random examples, Paul Thomas Anderson's defining breakthrough moment came in 1999 with his epic 'Magnolia' when the frogs fell from the sky. LeBron James's block on Iguodala arguably stands as one of the greatest sporting moments that defined him as a winner, securing the Cavaliers their first NBA Title. Recently, at a local coffee shop, I observed a shy friend finally gather the courage to ask the barista for their phone number after weeks of pent-up frustration and nervousness. Moments have the power to define us, shape relationships, and as I’ll get into, distinguish a top-tier leader from an average player in the field.

The date is July 4th, 2016. Little did we know that an NBA General Manager’s outlook on his team would completely shift due to a player unexpectedly departing. Not only would this GM lose a player that nearly helped win a title just a few seasons ago, but he’d be losing him to what was already the best team in basketball. As Oklahoma City Thunder fans and even casual NBA fans went for the jersey burn, Sam Presti had another avenue in mind. His leadership and mindset on this day about seven years ago would pave the way for the OKC Thunder to once again become a force in the Western Conference. Dressed in a black sweater in the 93 degree weather, Presti rose to the occasion and thanked Durant for his time as an MVP caliber player and commitment to the community, rather than bashing him for taking the easy way out.

Seven years later, the Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves with one of the brightest futures in the National Basketball Association, all within one of the league's smallest markets. Methodically building a winner, Sam Presti has, despite numerous obstacles, successfully accomplished this managerial feat for the Thunder.

II. Midwest Magic

Newly acquired Steve Smith of the 2001 San Antonio Spurs remarked, "He was always around." A young Mr. Presti appeared to have no fixed role, often found with coaches, the general manager, studying in the video room, and even chatting with players. Dipping his toes in one of the best run organizations in all of sports. There really couldn’t have been a better start to the new century for an up and coming basketball savant. From 2000 to 2007, Sam ended up earning the respect of those inside the San Antonio organization as a hard worker and ultimately being ultra-passionate about the game of basketball, skyrocketing up the ranks from a $250/month film internship to assistant general manager. So, where does this success story begin?

Let's start after his move from the East Coast and basketball playing days. Presti had recently completed his studies at Emerson College and took up a position at a small basketball camp in Aspen, Colorado, with aspirations of becoming a high school basketball coach. But on the camp's last day, a magical moment occurred. It was a fortuitous alignment of being in the right place, at the right time, with the right energy. Presti was prepared for the moment when Spurs GM R.C. Buford happened to referee one of the games in the gym that day, delivering his best sales pitch which ultimately secured him an internship with San Antonio inside a converted custodial closet inside the Alamodome. While Buford and Gregg Popovich’s names are all over the Spurs’ early 2000s success papers, the two needed Sam to propel San Antonio to those three NBA titles. In June of 2007, seven years after that gym run-in with Buford, the Seattle Supersonics hired a 29-year-old Presti as their General Manager, making him the 2nd youngest GM in league history.

III. A Leadership Moment

While navigating through the Kevin Durant departure, Paul George trade request, and Oklahoma City’s label as a “small-market”, Sam Presti has always built the Oklahoma City Thunder his way. One of his more notable moves since Durant’s departure was bringing in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and five first-round draft picks in exchange for Paul George, who had just finished runner-up in MVP voting the season before. Sam knew his chips in place, understood the time frame of the league compared to his roster, and took a chance on Shai. Moving ahead a few seasons, the Thunder capitalized on one of those Clippers picks, selecting rookie of the year runner-up Jalen Williams. They also had two more first-round picks and a pick swap option in their arsenal. Again, Presti saw the market, knew the Thunder had reached their peak after three consecutive first-round exits with Paul George and Russell Westbrook as main contributors, and decided to begin a new era. As an NBA General Manager and the ultimate decision-maker, Presti exudes self-confidence in his vision, a quality that appears elusive to many other GMs and leaders throughout the sport landscape. Gregg Popovich, who praised Presti after his departure from the Spurs in '07, described him as a "total team player" and a "great human being" who is deeply loyal. After guiding one of the smallest markets in the league to an NBA Finals in their fourth season after relocation, ten playoff appearances in fifteen seasons, and rebuilding after losing some of the biggest superstars in the league, his loyalty has seemed to reciprocate among the Oklahoma City community. 

A few notable leadership moments headed by Presti include his Thunder Fellows Program, which is run by himself and CAA Sports executive Mike Johnson. This program unlocks new opportunities in sports, technology, and entertainment for African American students in the Tulsa area, just above an hour drive from Oklahoma City. Sam is also actively engaged with PeacePlayers International, an organization dedicated to uniting communities worldwide through the power of basketball, fostering global outreach. Presti serves as a multi-dimensional general manager and human being, which is the biggest insight from diving into one of the most highly regarded NBA executives in the game.

IV. Present Presti

Looking forward, it doesn’t seem like Presti’s time in Oklahoma City is done just yet. The team plans on building a $900 Million stadium downtown that is scheduled to open by the 2029-30 season. The citizens of Oklahoma have a desire for the Thunder to remain in town, eagerly watching this emerging group of young players develop and thrive before their eyes donning the blue and orange. After years of strategic maneuvers, shedding and acquiring salaries, trading and amassing draft picks, and experimenting with various guard rotations to guide the team, it's now apparent that Sam Presti faces his next significant dilemma: Should we accelerate our timeline or remain committed to our development plan? Last season, the 2nd-youngest roster in the league won 40 games while winning a play-in game.

A seismic shift is occurring for this team, with an MVP candidate at Point Guard (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), two incredible southpaw playmaking wings in Jalen Williams & Josh Giddey, elite backcourt defenders in Cason Wallace & Luguentz Dort, and finally one of the highest touted big men in the past few draft classes in Chet Holmgren. 

This organization shouldn't have found itself in this position, considering the departures of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George among others. Yet, here they stand, in one of the most enviable positions of any rebuilding team in the league, boasting a wealth of young talent and a treasure chest of future draft picks. They shouldn't be on the brink of contending just two years after winning a mere 22 games in a season. But for Sam Presti, the word "luck" is not in his vocabulary. Since the summer of 2007, he has methodically built and fortified the Oklahoma City Thunder organization to not only battle adversity but to thrive in its aftermath. This type of leadership and resilience is rare to find in sports, which is a testament to Presti's exceptional ability to navigate the complex landscape of the NBA.