The Oklahoma City Thunder have been an afterthought since the team broke up its superstar duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook a few years ago.
The team didn’t have much say in what happened at that time as Durant was intent on joining the Golden State Warriors, but it happened, and Westbrook didn’t last much longer even though there was a short stint with Paul George.
Although there have been some dark days in Oklahoma City that consisted of stockpiling draft picks, the struggling franchise seems to finally be trending back in the right direction, with some talented young players and the right leader on the sideline.
Head coach Mark Daigneault may not be a household name at this point in his coaching career, but he’s making some waves and was recently given a contract extension for his efforts, which seems like the right move, according to Brandon Rahbar of Daily Thunder.
This extension is a show of support from the Thunder that they believe in Daigneault to continue to build along with this young core.
Thunder far exceeded expectations last season. Daigneault has been excellent developing OKC’s talent and putting players in position to succeed.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) July 19, 2023
Daigneault may not be a Gregg Popovich or Steve Kerr, but he’s moving up the ranks in the same way that Erik Spoelstra did with the Miami Heat, and that appears to be paying off with production on the floor and some long-term security for this head coach on the rise.
The Thunder will be an exciting team to watch during the 2023-24 NBA season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turning into a legitimate superstar and some talented young players looking to make a name for themselves, like Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren.
Although being a title contender may still be a few years away, the Thunder could very well be a playoff team next season, as many expect them to make some noise in the Western Conference.
NEXT: Thunder Make A Key Move For The Future
