SGA Praises Sam Presti for Prioritizing 'Human Beings' over 'Talents' While Building Thunder Roster

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes one reason the Oklahoma City Thunder have been successful is because of what general manager Sam Presti prioritizes when adding players.

Speaking to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the reigning two-time NBA MVP praised Presti for emphasizing "human beings" instead of only thinking about "talents" in his roster decisions.

"Sam has passed on talents to get human beings," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That mindset has really helped this group. It's a big reason why we all get along so well and have this chemistry that everyone talks about. Sam brings a certain type of person in here."

Aside from the now-infamous 2019 trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in which the Thunder acquired Gilgeous-Alexander and a package of draft picks, one of which turned into Jalen Williams, Presti's two biggest moves were for Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein in the summer of 2024.

Caruso has earned a reputation as a fierce competitor on the court and one of the Thunder's leaders, despite being in just his second season with the team.

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MacMahon noted Hartenstein, who signed a three-year, $87 million contract in July 2024, was like Caruso in that both were regarded as "connectors and competitors, smart and selfless, physical and fearless" when the Thunder prioritized pursuing him in free agency.

Hartenstein remains the biggest external free-agent addition in terms of his contract the Thunder have made during this run of success that initially began with the 2023-24 season, then really exploded with a 68-win campaign and an NBA title last season.

Neither Caruso nor Hartenstein would be rated among the the top three players for the Thunder because of how good Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Chet Holmgren are.

But both of them have been crucial to the Thunder's success over the past two seasons. Just in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Caruso kept them close with 31 points in 32 minutes.

In Game 2, Hartenstein was given the primary task of matching up with Victor Wembanyama. He did about as good a job as any individual defender has against the Spurs phenom in this postseason.

Whatever the formula that Presti is working with to decide who he wants to add, it's working great because everyone who puts on a Thunder uniform seems to fit exactly what they need.