- Presti becomes first Thunder executive to win since 1994
- Received 10 first-place votes from 30 team executives
- Built roster that achieved league-best 68 regular-season victories
- Cavaliers’ Koby Altman and Pistons’ Trajan Langdon finish 2nd/3rd
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s front office leader has been recognized for his decade-long rebuild strategy. Sam Presti’s patient roster construction paid dividends this season as the Thunder dominated the Western Conference. His approach of developing draft picks like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while making calculated trades set a new blueprint for small-market franchises.
Industry analysts highlight three critical factors in Presti’s success: maintaining financial flexibility during rebuilds, prioritizing two-way players, and leveraging advanced analytics in player development. The Thunder’s 43-win improvement over three seasons demonstrates the effectiveness of this model, particularly compared to teams relying on superstar free-agent acquisitions.
Voting results revealed fascinating trends among NBA executives. While Presti secured 33% of first-place votes, six executives favored Cleveland’s Koby Altman after his bold Donovan Mitchell trade. Detroit’s Trajan Langdon received similar support for engineering the league’s biggest single-season turnaround (+30 wins). Notably, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka only appeared on five ballots despite acquiring Luka Dončić.
Regional comparisons underscore Presti’s achievement. The Thunder became only the third team in NBA history to produce both Executive of the Year and MVP candidates (Gilgeous-Alexander) in the same season. This dual recognition echoes the 2016 Warriors and 2021 Bucks, both championship-winning squads.
As the playoffs progress, Presti’s roster faces its ultimate test. With an average age of 23.9 years, the Thunder’s core could maintain title contention for years – a testament to executive vision meeting on-court execution.