Oklahoma City Thunder’s Training Camp Media Session
In the week leading up to the start of training camp for the Oklahoma City Thunder, hot off their first NBA championship win, GM Sam Presti hosted a media session at the team’s practice facility. It was a crisp September morning, and at 10 a.m. local time on September 25, he greeted the reporters in attendance while dressed in a black shirt. Clearing his throat, Presti set the stage for what would become a two-hour discourse on the evolution of the NBA and the team’s aspirations, which he dubbed “Chapter 18” reflecting on the Thunder’s 18 years in Oklahoma City. This annual gathering is one of the rare moments where Presti steps into the limelight, preferring to work behind the scenes despite being renowned as a top executive in the league.
Commitment to Thoroughness
Prefacing his statements with a commitment to thoroughness, Presti informed the audience that he would remain until every question was addressed—a tradition that dates back to his initial press conference in 2008. The session took a familiar turn as the crowd eventually prompted him to discuss his reading list from the previous months.
This year’s repertoire included works from Joan Didion and a collection of essays by architect Le Corbusier along with “The Science of Hitting” authored by Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams. Echoing a similar variety in his literary interests, past discussions have seen Presti notably reference authors ranging from Ernest Hemingway’s editor Max Perkins to explorer Ernest Shackleton.
Influence of Robert Caro
Yet, a constant thread in Presti’s recommended reading has been the acclaimed historian Robert Caro, who has dedicated decades to documenting the life of former President Lyndon Johnson through his Pulitzer Prize-winning multi-volume biography. Caro’s exhaustive research methodology, which emphasizes thorough exploration of sources—“turning every page”—has left a significant impression on Presti, marking a philosophical cornerstone in how he approaches team building and management.
Presti’s admiration for Caro first became evident during a virtual call in 2020, when he remarked on balancing workouts and his endeavor to read Caro’s “Master of the Senate”. He articulated how the biography was so compelling that he often found himself exhausted from the depth of the material. In a recent media statement, Presti emphasized Caro’s mantra to illustrate the necessity of diligence in understanding the team’s dynamics and potential for future success. He articulated that by meticulously examining every aspect of their team, the Thunder could uncover hidden opportunities for improvement.
Cultural Impact and Future Aspirations
The impact of Caro’s philosophy transcends mere admiration; it resonates deeply with the Thunder’s culture under Presti’s leadership. Following their championship win, Presti expressed pride in the collective maturity within the organization, signaling that their focus lies on continuous development rather than just on outcomes. Referring back to Caro’s guidance, he reiterated the importance of a curious mindset:
“To be exceptional, you need to embrace being an exception,”
he stated, encapsulating the essence of their ongoing journey as they prepare for the new season.
While Caro himself remains focused on completing the historical and ambitious account of Johnson’s life, he acknowledges the intersection between his work and the strategies employed by NBA executives like Presti. The indirect influence Caro’s research habits have had on the Thunder’s philosophy has been publicly recognized, making the historian an unofficial yet significant part of the team’s narrative as they aim for greatness.
