Sam Presti’s Bold Vision From 2019 Built the Oklahoma City Thunder Into NBA Champions Right Before Our Very Eyes

Sam Presti has always been a step ahead.

In 2019, when Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager, made the seismic decision to trade Paul George to the LA Clippers, the basketball world erupted with confusion and criticism. It wasn’t just any trade — the Thunder were sending away an All-NBA, two-way superstar still in his prime. For most, it looked like Oklahoma City was voluntarily walking into a rebuild that could take a decade to produce results — if it ever produced results at all.

But Presti wasn’t operating on short-term noise. He was playing chess while much of the league reacted with checkers-like thinking.

What many forgot, and what became evident only over time, is that Sam Presti isn’t just another front-office executive making moves to stay afloat. He’s a calculated strategist — the mastermind behind one of the most remarkable NBA turnarounds in recent memory.

That Paul George trade, at the time controversial, laid the foundation for a championship blueprint. Presti secured a historic package from the Clippers, headlined by a relatively unknown but supremely talented young guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The trade also included a mountain of draft capital — five first-round picks, two pick swaps, and Danilo Gallinari. But it was Gilgeous-Alexander, a wiry, smooth Canadian guard entering his second NBA season, who became the heartbeat of the Thunder’s future.

When the dust settled after the 2019 offseason, many questioned Presti’s direction. But Presti didn’t flinch. His vision was clear, as he boldly declared in The Oklahoman:

“The next great Thunder team is out there somewhere, but it will take time to seize and discipline to ultimately sustain.”

Those words weren’t hollow. They were prophetic.

Over the next few years, Oklahoma City endured growing pains — as expected. Veterans left, losses piled up, and critics remained skeptical. But Presti’s plan wasn’t about the next season or even the one after that. It was about cultivating a sustainable contender built around youth, versatility, and patience.

As seasons passed, Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed. His game evolved from a promising point guard to one of the league’s most complete superstars. His ability to control tempo, create offense, and defend multiple positions became the cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s identity.

Meanwhile, Presti masterfully maneuvered the draft and trade market. He stockpiled young talent like Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Josh Giddey, complementing SGA’s ascension with a roster designed for modern NBA success — positionless, skilled, and adaptable.

The Thunder’s 2023-24 season served as a warning shot to the league. They finished with 57 wins, locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and announced their arrival as legitimate contenders. Yet even that success felt like a prelude.

Now, in the summer of 2025, the Thunder have completed the mission. Oklahoma City, once seen as a rebuilding project destined for irrelevance, are NBA Champions — and they’re built to stay that way.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the centerpiece of the Paul George trade, didn’t just validate Presti’s gamble — he surpassed expectations in historic fashion. The reigning NBA MVP, fresh off signing a record-breaking $285 million supermax extension, is not only the leader of the Thunder but one of the league’s most respected and admired stars.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise embodies everything Presti envisioned: a humble, relentless competitor who elevates those around him, anchored by a team-first mentality and an insatiable work ethic. His game is poetry in motion — blending footwork, creativity, and defense into a near-unmatchable package.

But this championship wasn’t won by SGA alone. Presti’s draft wizardry filled the roster with high-IQ, versatile pieces like Holmgren, whose two-way presence altered Oklahoma City’s defense, and Williams, whose playmaking and perimeter defense became vital down the stretch.

The Thunder’s success story is as much about culture as it is about talent. Presti fostered an environment where development is paramount, egos are checked at the door, and every player understands their role within a greater system.

Throughout it all, Presti never wavered. He absorbed the early criticism, stayed the course, and trusted his method. And now, six years after the controversial Paul George trade, the vision is realized.

Ironically, the Clippers — the team that surrendered their future for George and Kawhi Leonard — never reached the mountaintop, beset by injuries and playoff shortcomings. Meanwhile, the Thunder quietly stockpiled assets, honed their young core, and methodically constructed a championship-caliber squad.

Oklahoma City’s title is not just a triumph of talent but a masterclass in organizational patience and foresight.

For Presti, this championship validates the blueprint he sketched in 2019. But more importantly, it signals the beginning of a potential dynasty. With SGA locked in through 2031, a treasure trove of draft picks still at Presti’s disposal, and a roster that continues to grow, the Thunder are not a one-hit wonder — they are built to contend for years to come.

It’s fitting to recall Presti’s words from six years ago — words that now resonate with prophetic clarity:

“The next great Thunder team is out there somewhere, but it will take time to seize and discipline to ultimately sustain.”

Mission accomplished, Sam. And the scariest part for the rest of the NBA? The Thunder — still one of the league’s youngest cores — are only getting started.

From bold trades to meticulous draft-night decisions, Presti’s orchestration has reshaped Oklahoma City’s trajectory. He bet on vision over impulse, on patience over panic, and the result is a championship team with sustainable success etched into its DNA.

The mastermind who saw it all in 2019 made it all happen, step by calculated step, right before our very eyes.