5 things the OKC Thunder can learn from ‘The Last Dance’

Mindset and motor are key to winning:

In just their 12th season the OKC Thunder is a bit of a misnomer given they’ve rarely failed. Other than the inaugural season and the 2014-15 season the Thunder have made the playoffs in every other campaign.

Having three former Most Valuable Players on the team helped OKC reach the 2011-12 NBA finals. However, with two top 10 talents, and arguably the best player in the association (Kevin Durant) the team failed to ever replicate that success.

While most analysts insist no team can win a championship without a top-five or 10 talent, even with players who meet that standard it also doesn’t guarantee success.

Clearly, not every team will be fortunate enough to land the GOAT. Yet the lesson here isn’t that Sam Presti needs to find the next Michael Jordan. At least not in terms of production. Rather, the franchise needs to be cognizant of the mindset and motor of the players drafted.

Jordan was a physical anomaly whose ability forced the league to implement an illegal offense because he couldn’t be stopped by single coverage even in the era of hand checking. But what made him unique was his total commitment to fundamental excellence and his absolute refusal to lose.

No player before or since has combined physical skill and fundamentals to the same degree. The closest version would be Kawhi Leonard, but ask MJ what he thinks about load management and again we’re staring at the GOAT with a unicorn horn.

The lesson for Sam Presti and the Thunder is to value both qualities when assessing prospects and roster additions.