Stephen A. applauds Sam Presti for his assembly of the OKC Thunder 👏 | NBA Countdown

Stephen A. Smith, Adrian Wojnarowski and Bob Meyers join Malika Andrews on NBA Countdown to discuss the bright future ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder at the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie sensation Chet Holmgren.
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[@Tehui1974]

As a New Zealander, I'm happy for the fans who live in OKC. As far as I know, they treated Steven Adams really well when he was with them.

[@G-Blockster]

Steven Adams, Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison, and Enes Kanter will always be honored in OKC no matter where they go.

[@OPGrimmz]

@@G-Blocksterno, we hate them here

[@enfirst]

​@@G-BlocksterEnes Kanter is not on the same level with other guys. He is a member of a terrorist cult and now he's trying to win the support of white supremacists.

[@WilkoSuave]

Being from OKC Steven Adams is a legend!

[@tysonkelley2631]

​@@OPGrimmztf no we dont.

[@bee1979]

Myers seemed a little salty when SAS was praising Presti 👀

[@KiarRushing]

Finally OKC get some recognition

[@jerryuma]

100% agree about Presti now. I don’t think they should mess with this roster.

[@knowledgespoiled1247]

I am with you. Not just that. They have good picks coming to so draft smart and Don't add anyone so called veteran. Keep the young dudes. This team can be so good. They got ridiculous offense, they got defense.

[@jerryuma]

@@knowledgespoiled1247 👍

[@theclimbback_]

how about they pick Bron next year if lakers lose and think to rebuild around AD. OKC just a Bron away from the finals

[@changed_name1951]

@@knowledgespoiled1247so you want them to keep adding young guys that they won’t even have minutes to give them?

[@knowledgespoiled1247]

No Some of the players they got need to go and when i said add, i mean add quality players @@changed_name1951

[@karimzakaria9621]

I completely agree with Woj. If I'm OKC, I'm letting the young guys grow and develop. No need to cash in right now

[@juju-ocu3879]

Exactly as an OKC fan I will be the first to say I expect this team to win 1 series at best. But let them go through it and experience and learn from it together and they will be way better off that way in the future

[@burnixone]

Find a new home for Josh though

[@TheJudgementofDog]

​@@burnixone Why? Because people passed judgment on something that we don't have enough facts to base any judgment on?

[@nbafanboy1967]

I'm giving them this season and next season max. If by the middle of next season they're not a clearly better team than what they are now then they should 100% make a move but only then.

[@chrisszyyy]

Durant wants them to trade for him.

[@Big_Lou0824]

Mark is such an underrated coach imo. Even in losses (except for the blowout in Denver and the last game in Houston) you know and see that the team in the floor is always prepared and locked in. Not only is their roster developed internally, their coach is also within OKC organization from their g-league team. Amazing job all around ⚡️⬆️

[@accordingtodrew7302]

As an OKC fan, I personally don’t like all the attention we’re getting because I know how fickle these analysts can be and how fast they can switch up. But hey, I’m just excited to see how this team continues to grow and get better

[@djdoc06]

You’re as good as your record says you are. So if they start losing a lot, why wouldn’t analysts change their mind based on how they play? Now if they ever win a chip or two or four, then you can complain that the analysts are writing you off too fast.

[@colbysmith3073]

They’re on our meat now but the last 2 years they called us “the black eye of the league” and dogged us for tanking for a year or two. All while Detroit has been in a 18 year rebuild.

[@accordingtodrew7302]

@@colbysmith3073 exactly my point. I didn’t forget when they were calling us sewer dwellers and how we making the league look bad because of the supposed “tanking” now it’s how genius presti is and how calculated the moves have been.

[@christiankarlkarganilla2763]

Righy the moment they have some sort of mini losing streak like they do now having lost their last 2 games, they gonna say something like they overrated. Give me a break.

[@JP-rw5cd]

I’m die hard OKC fan , pretty sure players enjoy getting their flowers . They’re not in LA so don’t worry they won’t become milked

[@ttam1217]

Myers had the most interesting insight: "He's seen the summit, and he wants to get back there.. That's why he might be agressive". I think he's absolutely right. People have Presti pegged as conservative because of how he slow played the first great Thunder team, I wouldnt be so sure that's how he'll approach his second chance.

[@lemini4k]

The Thunder and Pacers both have stacked squads who are building chemistry. I'd love to see them both in the Finals this year.

[@duffal0]

Scary good team, need more coverage

[@Z_Is_Me_Reacts]

If they go to the finals nobody should be surprised

[@AliFrankTheTank]

Clippers OKC Wcf will feed families

[@Z_Is_Me_Reacts]

@@AliFrankTheTank 🤣🤣🤣

[@soufatldude700]

we should be. theyre all extremely young and 90% have never played a playoff game

[@mingfung7777]

OKC will make some noise in the playoffs

[@tinobrown1780]

Beat the Celtics, and your GM gets an apology from Stephan A.

[@evanmcdonald8612]

He didn't really apologize though, just talked around an apology 😆

[@haggins101]

@@evanmcdonald8612he literally said he aplogized😂

[@evanmcdonald8612]

"I want to apologize" and "I owe this man an apology" Nah, that's not an actual apology. But also i don't think SAS really needs to apologize for anything. Presti gives zero fucks, for sure

[@zozoridgenal7894]

Every time tho. You beat the Celtics and he apologize all the time. Watch when the lakers beat them

[@MannysTechWorld]

@@evanmcdonald8612do you sleep at night 🤨🤨🤨

[@frankielymon1148]

This is what hard work in the summer looks like, sga, williams and chet put in some serious work this summer and it’s showing.

[@cabanks1430]

That executive is a smart man

[@CA-tk8yn]

They're very exciting to watch. I love how far they went in last year's playoffs. It shows they're experienced and ready, right? No. Maybe they're the team that's giving 100% right now and nothing more. I bet it's really that, but I love an underdog story that ends with success, so go Thunder!

[@nbafanboy1967]

if you think only 1 out of 30 teams are giving 100% right now then you have clearly not been watching this season.

[@KevinCantWait08]

OKC is absolutely on the come up... with SGA at the forefront and Holmgren and others, plus the 15 future draft picks, they're in prime position to get even better.

[@Ballad2Grave]

3:42 That sums it up pretty much :D

[@karlbradley7041]

Sam, "I Am" Presti have been ridiculed, beating and thrown under the bus for years, and he has also been looked over as executive of years at least twice before. This year, he receives his flowers 💐/ executive award and its most deserving Roaring Thunder ❤

[@jjtheking-px8ml]

W Steven A Smith, W Coach, W OKC thunder!!!

[@scottpaddlety8741]

OKC Thunder are coming back 😆💪 I love it ⛈️💙

[@d.anthony4363]

KD requesting trade to the Thunder 😂

[@RomnysGonzalez]

And then to Denver and then to BOS

[@zekerton7262]

That would actually be cool to see 😂

[@DHKer23]

First, seems like SGA has a better head on his shoulders than JA. Second, Chet seems to be on a better trajectory than JJJ (and JJJ is a pretty solid player). Third, Memphis DID NOT have the assets (I think 40!!! picks) that OKC has to play with. Whether its moving the picks for help or draft enhancements, or moving the picks for future assets, OKC is prime to be in the conversation for quite a few years to come. As such, I don't see how the Memphis was OKC a few years ago really holds any water.

[@TwoPair]

💯

[@ganbarugaming]

Building is one thing but the Coaching staff has been phenomenal also, plus Chet. Get a seasoned vet for bench numbers!

[@jrev8089]

Bob Lightyears - to infinite and beyond!

[@RomnysGonzalez]

Funny enough. This very same people were mocking OKC and Presti. They were making jokes and demading him to make stupid trades, to stop holding draft picks and waste cap space on terrible players

[@kenyonjohnson6937]

Bob still in his feelings

[@taybellamy2154]

15 first round pics is crazy 😵‍💫

[@ThunderTalk]

Presti is a top 2-3 GM in this league if not 1

[@charlescohen6140]

Stephen is probably the last commentator to notice. Thanks Stephen.

[@MM-tw7pu]

Add a still young championship experience vet that absolutely fits to this team….they winning this year no cap.

[@KCM316]

They will be a 1st round out just don’t have the experience yet

[@intelligentman7195]

Yep 1st round exit

[@djdoc06]

Imagine having a young team that is so good, that you have 15 picks, and can afford to trade “soon picks” for “later picks”

[@LuckyDaVinci]

They got good pieces they need to make some changes and they need another 2 way player. Who can really light it up . And they have to lean into defense imo . This team can be the best 2 way team in the league. Idk tho . Health and consistency are key.

[@DKshorty]

Bob Myers’s showing his insecurity’s Hahha Sam presti is king .

[@vheissuthrice]

Presti's teams work because they're young and flex their positions. First team was built out of a triple threat PG and a AS flex 3. They were missing a reliable shooter (Jalen) and a big man (Chet) who could carry the load when the perimeter cooled. Don't do anything Sam.

[@EternoAmorGremio]

So the process was bad but if other team does is ok? Where is Adam Silver to fire the Pistons GM?

[@Josephlokzz]

They should go and get Westbrook and other vet at a minimum and mark my words they can actually win the championship

[@JasonExclusive]

The only thing I'd do is trade 2-3 first round picks for Lauri Markennen. OKC has 3 first round picks this year. Not all of them can be used or else they'll just have to cut players from their roster.

[@Josephlokzz]

Yes this what they should do get Lauri to OKC

[@dillatronic4757]

​@@Josephlokzz OKC will not trade Markkanen you average minds

[@Josephlokzz]

@@dillatronic4757 yes they could you scrub imagine the amount of first round picks they can provided in exchange UTAH is looking to rebuild this is step in the right direction and helping Lauri in the process

[@dillatronic4757]

@@Josephlokzz Okey we're going to trade Markkanen for 2 second round picks only? How about that? Don't try to screw him over to us.

[@Josephlokzz]

@@dillatronic4757 I didn’t even say second round picks I said first round picks what you are high look up how many picks OKC has

[@GH-cd6oq]

Sam was a Pop protege

[@swong5427]

Thunder success is due to SGA and the emergence of Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

[@user-tn7by5vh6s]

every since 2020OKCfinally fixing to get in the playoffs for

[@werdna96921]

The trouble for OKC will come when you start having to hand out max contracts for these guys, they will lose some depth

[@Mansjushereinnit]

That's why he's stacked the war chest with draft picks, I honestly believe he stockpiled picks to move up in drafts to select high quality picks to fill out his roster when he starts handing out max deals......reality is most good teams that hand out maxed deals can never draft quality players sdue to draft position, so they struggle to fill the roster with good players that are cheap via the draft, warriors failed, the heat failed, celtics failed etc. The only time a good team got good talent in the draft was through a blip when they were injured and bad, for the next 7 years OKC can trade two 1st and a 2nd to move into the top 10 and add quality cheap depth and presti has shown to be a good drafter... This position they find themselves really is a unique one

[@dougrmoe]

OKC is strong. I think size will be a problem for them in playoffs

[@will2358]

They made that mistake with Perkins I think they learned from that

[@staymelo9048]

Nah only the Knicks is “wait until the playoffs, they are bad until then” we really going to sit here and say okc will go far in the playoffs? Ppl stay glazing. Okc ain’t bad but come on..

[@uhmilli4680]

What’s the O/U Kevin Durant leaves Phoenix to join OKC?

[@SSJRome]

I think they are one piece away from contention it will be interesting to see who they get

[@darriusg5007]

Y do u guys always say oNe gUy aWaY WE DONT NEED A SOUL

[@SSJRome]

needed one against atlanta tonight @@darriusg5007

[@gabrielcarrasco9078]

OKC doesn't need a star just a veteran rebounder.

[@travsmit1197]

OKC should give how ever many first round picks jazz want for Lauri “Marksmanan”

[@TheShock03]

Okc front office x fans just need to be patient, great things are coming just be persistent

[@NoNoNo12322]

Omg nice group talking malika please let them speak haha

[@NoNoNo12322]

More of bob myers 🙂😇🫡

[@anotherelvis]

This segment would have been better without Steven A. Smith. Just let WOJ and Bob speak.

[@ratedRblazin420]

As long as they don't let the same thing happen when they had Harden, Durant, and Westbrook

[@brandonbenn3927]

idgaf, package a couple firsts, giddey, and jalen williams for KD, tell me that's not chip bound

[@davidtamou4680]

Bob Myers comeback not twice.. but three times..

[@alimfuzzy]

If the thunder win the championship i want a 'Major League' style movie.

[@davidbaggs2273]

Bob meyers I respect you Bud okc has a DANG GOOD chance to come out of the west in 2025 man!! You got this WRONG BOB

[@Im_a_49er]

Honestly, Bob Meyers was WAY BETTER! Architected some great lineups throughout the years that won multiple championships. Bob Meyers’s is that dude when speaking of GM’s.

[@davorbeljan4369]

Bob Myers got lucky that a once in a lifetime cap spike happened that got him Durant. He also got lucky in 2015 that they played all teams who had their best players injured ending with Cavs without Love and Irving. He signed DeAndre Jordan to a max deal in 2015 that would have ruined their cap and made it impossible to sign Durant. He got lucky the Clippers matched. Not to mention Curry having ankle problems that got him to sign a much lower contract than he deserved if healthy. He is good but he also had a lot of luck with his job and the opposite is true with Presti.

[@bencromwell707]

OKC there young group is a problem💯👍

[@Ronzell-ml9zz]

They beat Twolves, Nuggets, and Celtics but lost to HAWKS!!!

[@user-pf3bb4dn6l]

they also have said those lines when they had kd, westbrick and harden...

[@itsyaboiankles5604]

Westbrook*

[@hip360hop]

Bob Myers acting like he didn't adopt a fully loaded roster

[@Earl_E_Burd]

Tough coming from Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe and Dunker Spot and Hoop Collective and Bully Ball, to... this. 🗑

[@obryn]

15 first round pick lol As long as the Lakers or Celtics don't win. That's a win to me.

[@youwinlouw3815]

Josh giddey?

[@djdoc06]

All they need to do is beat an Eastern conference team in a playoff series.

[@zechariahzenith8762]

OKC can overtake Wolves. Young athletic vs 2 slow Bigs.

[@stephentanws]

Bob Myers’s talking his talk! Great having a GM as an analyst. Brings a different perspective and no one can talk down to him because he built the Warriors dynasty.

[@astronewton1995]

First they build KD russ harden and ibaka now it’s sga chet dort williams.

[@jonpoon3896]

Bob sitting there thinking, “there’s a good reason why Sam hasn’t won a championship. Me”

[@davorbeljan4369]

Not really, it was Golden State only one year. LeBron and the Spurs are the reasons they didnt win but the biggest one is untimely injuries. Russ in 2013, Ibaka in 2014, everyone in 2015, just would always get unlucky.

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

Presti will always be known for making arguably the stupidest trade in the history on NBA management getting rid of Harden and deciding that Ibaka was more valuable. That decision cost OKC what would have been a dynasty with what could have been 3 or more championships. The Warriors dynasty never would have happened if OKC had KD, Westbrook and Harden intact. That being said outside of that trade and a handful of other bad picks he's been absolutely phenomenal and has this team as a legit contender.

[@dillatronic4757]

Believe me you are not gonna get any championship if your leader is Kevin Durant and your coach is Scott Brooks.

[@okcthunder8993]

It wasn’t presti decision to trade harden, it was the owners

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

@@okcthunder8993 Feel free to prove that with actual facts. Good luck.

[@clarencesmith467]

If they trade dort I'm not watchin them

[@TheDeven1000]

If OKC does anything, it would be a rebounder. That’s where they get killed

[@geraldfilsaime9249]

SAS is such a sucker, and a hypocrite. He’s killing the Knicks for being patient and praising OKC for doing the same thing. He’s screaming for Knicks to make irrational trades yet he’s praising Presti building the right way and being patient. This video is proof that SAS 4:34 is a suck up and Not a Knicks fan. The media is biased. They have their teams they like. They would never criticize those teams even if they never win any championships they praise. You get a team they don’t like, they criticize that team even if they are making progress by doing the same thing. These media outlets are not objective. They are a soap opera.

[@kk-sr1wl]

Not sold on okc.. they had kd russ harden lol and pg melo n russ.

[@tiyalewhitehurst338]

THUNDER CAN DRAFT SOME TALENT BUT THEY KEEP EVERYONE AND GET A CHIP CAUSE THEY COMING RIGHT NOW

[@dillatronic4757]

2:26 What is he doing there seriously?

[@ThenotoriousAmerican1]

We need Lauri. That put us over the top. Giddey game will not translate to the playoffs.

[@ExpressThaMovement]

bob meyers is feeling some type of way lmao the warriors are done and everybody knows it. Cry Bob Cry lol

[@yagotta2495]

Go get Giannis

[@thisisSPARTAorsprite]

Draft bronny in two years And get lebron in two years Lebron as your vet with these youngins

[@propspat]

They lost to the best team in sports today. The Atlanta Hawks.

[@Josephlokzz]

Relax bud they did a back to back and it was close it’s not like they go blown out

[@JP-rw5cd]

You’re not on prestis level ,bobby

[@drewanto9441]

Should apologize to the Knicks next

[@xchsanch]

KD returning to okc 🤣🤣🤣

[@stunabeatz]

What if the Thunder draft Bonny then sign Lebron… & LBJ brings the first CHAMPIONSHIP to OKC. The biggest GOAT TALK in NBA HISTORY 😂

[@moro8926]

Hmmm .... It's like these legacy corporate commentators don't seem to actually watch actual games of basketball or summin 🤔😂

[@lionking266]

Anyone else think they will draft bronny James and get LeBron?

[@Jaytatum_stepback0]

Bro okc is not the best story 😂😂 1st round exit

[@kevonstrachan7059]

Sam presti doesn’t get an apology. He lost 3 MVP players because they didn’t want to give 4 mil extra to James harden. He blew a dynasty in the making. The organization better not f*cked this up now.

[@davorbeljan4369]

You do realize Presti is not the owner right? You do realize he has to get the owners approval to spend into the luxury tax?

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

Yes, he decided Ibaka was more valuable than Harden and it will go down as arguably the stupidest trade in the history of NBA management. The Warriors dynasty never would have happened had he kept Harden.

[@davorbeljan4369]

@@joeldriver-sp2rg Ibaka WAS more valuable to that team. The real mistake is not using the amnesty clause on Perk's contract. If they amnestied Perk's 8 million salary they would have enough for both. To this day I dont get it and I pray someone says why that is.

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

@@davorbeljan4369 LMFAO You didn't just seriously say that, did you? You think Ibaka was more valuable than an MVP level player? Dude, go learn basketball and come back and try again man. Harden was INFINITELY more valuable than Ibaka. The mistake Presit made was signing Ibaka 1st for 48 million which didn't leave enough money to give Harden a legit offer. They should have waited to sign Harden 1st and if they lost Ibaka so be it. There is no universe where Serge Ibaka is "more valuable" to any team in the history of basketball than James Harden.

[@davorbeljan4369]

@@joeldriver-sp2rg If you have 2 other MVP players who need the ball then a monster defending and shot blocking big man is a bigger need. Again Ibaka's contract had nothing to do with it. If they used the amnesty clause on Perk they would have enough money for both. But seeing how Harden is right now, it was obvious it was never about money, he is just addicted to attention. He wanted a bigger spotlight.

[@adampeters9684]

Where was this when the Wolves were beating the brakes off everyone? Stephen A you’d really rather go to Oklahoma for the finals than the TC? Because I know that what you base a majority of your “analysis” on

[@diegochavez6203]

Lol okc got two more wins than New Orleans. New Orleans will spank those boys😂

[@youwinlouw3815]

So josh giddey gone drop 15 on and off the court and we just supposed to not talk about it?

[@ozukabeats2456]

Nah this aint it, applaud a guy for having a team that stunk for years and just horded lottery picks to get better?

[@booksrdevinkevin]

Don't forget poku is not even healthy watch out for chet

[@tonywong8134]

They better win a title or start a dynasty. You don't want a James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant situation and only go to 1 finals. If the same thing happens again I would say Sam Presti is the worst GM in the history of the league. What is the point of all these resources if you don't achieve anything? He'd be the Doc Rivers of the GM world. All this talent for all these years (really, decades) and so little to show for it.

[@Wrestle_Kingdom]

So you’re blaming the gm because the players underperformed in the playoffs makes sense also how does that make him the worse when most gm can’t even draft no where near as good and have teams that are constantly competitive

[@tonywong8134]

@@Wrestle_Kingdom No, I'm blaming the GM for stockpiling picks and not using them to build. As of this writing he's had 19 1st round and 19 2nd rounds accumulated. That's 38 picks for crying out loud. Who did he spend those picks on? Steven Adams (whom he traded), Andre Roberson (who's in the G-League right now), Damontis Sabonis (whom he traded), Cameron Payne (whom he traded and has basically been a journeyman), and Chet Holmgren (who might be ROTY). He had those picks when James Harden was traded and could've used them to add to the roster of OKC while still having Russ, KD, Ibaka, and Steven Adams. Instead he kept the picks and hesitated to use them and the 2016 Thunder blew a 3-1 lead and loss to the warriors. He was betting so much on the future that he couldn't see what he had in OKC.

[@Wrestle_Kingdom]

@@tonywong8134 you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about because all those players you named were around before okc got all their picks and was drafted before they traded for all their picks they did not have 38 picks anytime before 2020 also one of reason he has picks now is for trades and to add depth because back then okc was stuck and couldn’t get better because a Lack of assets

[@TruthSpeaker4]

Dude knows nothing about team building 😂😂😂

[@cianmul15]

I immediately stop watching when Stephen A. starts speaking

[@billyringah]

Trade for Pascal!

[@russellwestbrookyellingatw9381]

No

[@Josephlokzz]

Hell no

[@TraJonR3D]

It must be nice being 24/7 bandwagoners. Stephen A. Thirsty