OKC Thunder Focus on Broad Improvement Over Spurs Rivalry
- Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault stated on September 28, 2026, that the team is not focusing its seasonal preparation solely on the San Antonio Spurs despite...
- The Thunder's approach to the upcoming season involves a comprehensive audit of the previous year's performance.
- While the loss to San Antonio provides informative data, Daigneault noted that the team does not play the Spurs 82 times a year.
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault stated on September 28, 2026, that the team is not focusing its seasonal preparation solely on the San Antonio Spurs despite a Game 7 loss to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Daigneault told reporters during the team’s media day that the Thunder’s offseason process remains identical every year, regardless of whether the team wins or is eliminated.
Thunder Process Prioritizes Broad Competitiveness Over Single Opponent
The Thunder’s approach to the upcoming season involves a comprehensive audit of the previous year’s performance. Daigneault explained that the team analyzes lessons from the regular season and dives into playoff series to determine what needs to be added or cut from the roster.
While the loss to San Antonio provides informative data, Daigneault noted that the team does not play the Spurs 82 times a year. He stated that the team must ensure its preparation is broad enough to remain competitive against all opponents, including teams that may unexpectedly emerge as high-level competitors.
“Our off-season approach, our process is the exact same every single year regardless of if we get eliminated, if we win,” Daigneault said Monday during the team’s media day. “We take the lessons from the regular season. We really, really dive into the playoff series, but not just the ones that we lose. We audit it. We take the lessons we can. We figure out what we need to add. We figure out what we need to cut.”
Previous Season Performance Against San Antonio
The Spurs held a significant advantage over Oklahoma City during the previous campaign.
Despite these results, General Manager Sam Presti indicated that he does not expect a downturn for Oklahoma City following offseason departures. The organization maintains that its primary objective is general improvement rather than a specific tactical obsession with the San Antonio roster.