OKC Thunder’s Championship Engineered by Emersonians
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s dominating season culminated in the franchise’s first championship on Sunday, June 22. And from top to bottom, Emerson College alum Sam Presti ’00, constructed the Thunders’ player roster, coaches, staff, and fostered the organization’s selfless ethos.
Presti isn’t the only Emersonian to guide the Thunder to a record-breaking season. Rob Hennigan ’04 is OKC’s assistant GM, and Brandon Barnett ’03 is Director of Pro Personnel. Also, former Emerson’s former men’s basketball head coach Hank Smith, who Presti and Hennigan credit as a mentor, is a scout for the Thunder.
For his role, Presti, the Thunder’s executive vice president and general manager, was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year, at the end of the season. After winning the championship, Presti, always quick to praise others , lauded the Thunder’s effort to The Oklahoman.
It unfolded this way because of the players and their professionalism, their rate of learning. Their rate of learning has outpaced their experience. I thought the team got better throughout the postseason from game to game — even in the losses. I think the team improved from Game 6 to Game 7. They’ve demonstrated the ability to learn and apply those things quickly. That’s a credit to them and the coaches.
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