Head coach Marc Daigneault and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have led the Western Convention standings for a lot of the 2024-25 marketing campaign. After getting off to an 8-2 begin, the Thunder misplaced Chet Holmgren to pelvic harm ten video games within the common season. Nonetheless, that did not cease Oklahoma Metropolis from going 11-3 in his absence whereas reaching the NBA Cup semifinals towards the Houston Rockets in Las Vegas.
At Media Day, Daigneault was requested by a reporter if the Thunder had met his expectations for the common season to date, and Thunder head coach answered fascinating.
“I do not actually have any expectations, and we nonetheless have about 70 p.c of the season left to play,” Daigneault stated. “We’re nonetheless attempting to develop as a group. You do not need to be a completed product in December. You need to be a rising group that good points momentum by means of the experiences of the season. And the one method to try this is to give attention to enchancment. So regardless of the place our stability sheet takes us proper now, it counts for nothing in December.
Mark Daigneault reacts to common season expectations for the Thunder
Thunder ahead Jalen Williams is in his third NBA season. He just lately reminded everybody that regardless of his rise to what must be his first All-Star marketing campaign to this point, Williams continues to develop as a younger NBA star. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault despatched the same reminder concerning his whole group.
Outdoors of 30-year-old veterans Kenrich Williams and Alex Caruso, the Thunder’s core is made up of gamers between the ages of 21 and 26. All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a part of the oldest group on this age group. Williams, the group’s second-leading scorer, is simply 23 years previous. Whereas it is encouraging to see the Thunder lead the Western Convention all season, Daigneault prioritizes participant development over profitable common season video games.
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“We are attempting to construct ourselves. We attempt to strengthen our muscle tissues all through the season. We face totally different challenges that we should overcome,” stated Daigneault. “We’ve to unravel totally different puzzles. Gamers change, develop and evolve as a result of we nonetheless have younger gamers. It’s important that we view them as unfinished merchandise which might be consistently being improved. So we actually attempt to keep centered on that, regardless of the place it takes us within the standings or what the end result of a match is.
“And we simply proceed to wager on that and hope and belief that this may deliver us into essentially the most absolutely up to date model of our group that we will obtain this season and in seasons to come back,” concluded Daigneault.
The Thunder will face the Rockets within the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas.
