NBA1h ago
Presti's Patient Approach Fuels Gilgeous-Alexander's Rise to Back-to-Back MVP
The Thunder general manager and his franchise player built a partnership around steady progress that delivered a championship and multiple individual honors.
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A Fable Sets the Tone
Early in their relationship, Thunder general manager Sam Presti gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a children's book about a tortoise and a hare. The message stressed patience and consistent effort over shortcuts. Gilgeous-Alexander embraced the idea, seeing it align with his own path after a season spent mostly sidelined by plantar fasciitis during a 22-50 campaign. Presti reinforced that the franchise would pursue a deliberate route toward contention rather than rushing results.
Commitment Through Contract
Following that difficult year, Gilgeous-Alexander signed a five-year, $172 million maximum extension without a player option. The move signaled mutual trust between the player and the organization that had acquired him in the Paul George trade. Five years later the deal stands as a bargain, with Gilgeous-Alexander now a back-to-back MVP and a four-year, $279 million supermax extension set to begin after the current season.
From Late Bloomer to Franchise Cornerstone
Gilgeous-Alexander's development followed a similar gradual pattern. Cut from his high school junior varsity team as a freshman, he earned a starting role the next year, received his first Division I offer from Binghamton, and later chose Kentucky. There he came off the bench initially but finished as SEC tournament MVP before going 11th overall. Presti noticed his consistency during scouting and viewed the guard as a long-term building block who would grow into a leader through steady work.
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