Sam Presti
After graduating from Emerson College, Presti was working at a basketball camp before being offered an internship by San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C.
Presti would show up at Buford's home with multiple footage of Parker during his tenure with Paris Basket Racing.
[5] Sonics owner Clay Bennett viewed Presti as "thoughtful, methodical, and measured" who had "an important role within [the Spurs] and contributed to their winning and how they do business.
[9] Presti then signed-and-traded Sonics forward Rashard Lewis in exchange for a second-round pick and a trade exception worth $9 million.
[15] Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Harden will later go on to form a "Big 3" in Oklahoma City and was aided with the additions of Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha.
After their inaugural season, the Thunder experienced one of the largest turnarounds improving to a 50–32 record and clinched their first playoff berth as the eighth seed.
[23][24] In the playoffs, the Thunder swept the defending champions Dallas Mavericks, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, and came back down two games to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1996 when the franchise was in Seattle.
[27] Presti and the Thunder management faced heavy criticism throughout Harden's tenure in Houston for the trade and for breaking up the team's "Big 3."
Against Harden and the Rockets in the playoffs, Russell Westbrook collided with Patrick Beverley and suffered a season-ending injury.
Making their fourth conference finals appearance in six years, the Thunder led the defending champions Golden State Warriors who went 73–9 in the regular season with a 3–1 series lead.
[30][31] Kevin made an indelible mark on the Thunder organization and the state of Oklahoma as a founding father of this franchise.
[33] In absence of Durant, Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson's most triple-doubles in a season with 42 and was named NBA Most Valuable Player after the Thunder's first round loss.
[34] To improve Westbrook's supporting cast, the Thunder traded for All-Star Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.
[35][36] George was traded by the Indiana Pacers following rumors of wanting to leave next season in free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers.
With the trade of Westbrook, the Thunder effectively "ended" their first iteration of the team in Oklahoma City since moving from Seattle.
After an unexpected 2019-20 season, Presti began a rebuilding process with the Thunder, trading away key veterans in Chris Paul, who made an All-Star game and an All-NBA selection, Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari, and Dennis Schröder.
During the 2022-23 season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emerged as a star, being named to his first All-Star game, an All-NBA First Team nomination, and led the Thunder to a 40–42 record.
His wife currently serves as the Teen Leadership Initiatives Coordinator for the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City.
[45] Before joining the San Antonio Spurs, Presti played basketball for Emerson College and Virginia Wesleyan University.
