Mark Daigneault introduced as OKC Thunder head coach – 3 takeaways
A week prior to the 2020 NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder introduce their new head coach Mark Daigneault. Three takeaways defined the media session.
On Wednesday, the OKC Thunder formally announced they have filled the head coach vacancy left by Billy Donovan’s exit. Assistant coach, Mark Daigneault is being promoted to the head chair following a year in that role and six years with the Thunder primarily spent with the OKC Blue.
The selection of Mark Daigneault is in keeping with OKC Thunder head man Sam Presti’s typical tendencies.
Presti loves cerebral coaches or executives and has a penchant for front-office personnel who have similar backgrounds to his.
As part of his welcome to the fan base, Presti formally introduced Daigneault as the new head coach via a video press conference.
Mark Daigneault named OKC Thunder head coach
The session served up three specific takeaways of the new bench boss and how his hiring will align with the future of the OKC Thunder.
The Presti patience principle:
Sam Presti loves playing the long game — look no further than Russell Westbrook as evidence of that fact. For years, everyone who didn’t appreciate the Brodie and had an opinion voiced it. But, whether it was Presti shouldn’t have picked him so high in the draft, suggestions to move him to shooting guard, force him to play a specific system, trade him, or that he was overrated Presti simply muted the critics and played the long game.
For the most part, Presti was correct because those closest to the Thunder know the Brodie was beloved by his teammates, did buy into doing whatever the team needed, and provided more entertainment for Thunder Nation than arguably any player in franchise history. Ironically, even with the trade to Houston, Westbrook ended up giving more than he took from the Thunder!
In a similar vein, when the OKC Thunder lost (yet again in the first round) to an underdog Blazers squad some fans and bloggers (raises hand) suggested Billy Donovan should be released. But, the bespeckled lead man ignored our demands sticking by BillyD. Turns out Sam has his job for a very good reason and Donovan rewarded Presti by delivering the best campaign of his tenure in OKC. (although — yes I’m being petty — those final play calls in Game 7 will haunt me for years).
The point is nothing seems to make Sam Presti happier than taking the path less traveled and then having the patience to wait until that choice is proven correct. The infamous Presti patience is a real thing as noted above.
So if anyone is thinking the new Thunder 35-year old head coach isn’t ready or other candidates made more logical sense be prepared to be proven wrong. The VP will do everything in his power to surround Daigneault with the right staff and roster so he’ll be in a position to grow and excel perfectly in step with the youngsters on the OKC Thunder.