This led the OKC Thunder to carry their annual exit interviews on Sunday with loads of learn-about and storylines to trace down. Every participant on the roster in addition to head coach Mark Daigneault will discuss with the assembled media for the ultimate time to shut the e book on the 2023-24 season. That is set to be an all-day affair.
Issues began out with Daigneault taking the rostrum to thank the gamers, followers and group for this season earlier than launching the media into pelting him and gamers with questions one after the other. This occasion isn’t live-streamed so this tracker can be continuously up to date all through the day as new quotes change into obtainable from exit interviews.
Mark Daigneault was requested in regards to the commerce deadline and never including a giant “I believed we had every little thing we wanted” pic.twitter.com/DEvAHdTR4z
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Mark Daigneault on Chet Holmgren “That is the bottom stage of Chet Holmgren,” talked about it’s straightforward to challenge progress/improvement for Chet “he sleeps in his sneakers” pic.twitter.com/Qz7RfItwf6
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Mark Daigneault’s antithesis to the “I’m a person, I’m 40!” speech pic.twitter.com/AmhXohDkSs
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) May 19, 2024
Mark Diagneault on when he sensed this workforce was unusual
“My first yr”
A narrative about T-shirts in seats and the unusual maturity of the Thunder roster pic.twitter.com/TBKguCf9N5
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) May 19, 2024
Mike Muscala “It was superior and I really feel so grateful for the chance to return again.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Mike Muscala on the Thunder group: “It means rather a lot. I went by rather a lot in my life, after I was right here. Simply town, the followers, the best way they help the workforce. What the workforce means to the group… I’ll all the time be a Thunder fan it doesn’t matter what occurs in my life.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Mike Muscala on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “I used to be very impressed and blown away early on from enjoying with him. He’s such a gifted and really calm, cool, participant. That even within the sport final evening, in a high-pressure sport, he was simply so composed…It has been superior to see.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Mike Muscala on Chet Holmgren “His competitiveness and he’s all the time preventing arduous each play. He’ll run again arduous in transition, he’ll make the suitable rotation defensively, it’s a number of little issues…I feel he’s probably the most underrated shot blocker within the NBA.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Bismack Biyombo stated enjoying with this Thunder workforce was a reminder to “Take pleasure in life just a little bit, whereas enjoying basketball”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Bismack Biyombo on Chet Holmgren “I research gamers and have a tendency to grasp gamers. I feel Chet is an especially gifted man…So as so that you can [play all 82 games] it takes dedication and sacrifice.” stated that claims rather a lot about Chet that he did that as a rookie.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Biyombo, talked about being “in a room filled with those that simply do not have needs, they’ve a will”, earlier than highlighting Chet particularly:
“I feel what he has executed for himself deserves the respect that we should give him… He is a believer with a will.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
Bismack Biyombo “Shai is like my little brother,” stated “The dedication that he has to proceed to get higher, though he’s enjoying at that stage, says rather a lot about him.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Bismack Biyombo stated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes to be the MVP of the league quickly “He ought to have been this yr, in any case”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Gordon Hayward on his decreased position “Disappointing with the way it all kinda labored out. It isn’t what I believed it could be. Definitely irritating, however it’s what it’s.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Gordon Hayward “I really feel like I’ve rather a lot to supply and wasn’t given a lot of a possibility to do this.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Gordon Hayward discussing the Thunder “They’re going to be good for years to return” reiterates he’s disillusioned in the way it labored out “It’s what it’s, It’s”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Gordon Hayward on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “He was unreal. Not solely within the postseason, clearly all the yr, to steer the workforce to the No. 1 seed within the west. I do know he places rather a lot into it.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Gordon Hayward on the low quantity of pictures “That may be a credit score to the position that I used to be in,” talked about a scarcity of touches
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Gordon Hayward on Daigneault “I feel he is a superb younger coach, extraordinarily ready. Laborious employee, I feel among the stuff that he’s doing is exclusive, new, actually sensible. Simply little nuances simply the sport inside the sport. Tips to win a possession again or get a fast bucket”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “you’ll be able to really feel the togetherness of this group” he stated “it feels prefer it’s uncommon interval. I’ve by no means been this near a basketball workforce in my life. Perhaps my AAU workforce.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Requested Shai how he views the thought of championship home windows and their period: “I do not know if I do not imagine in a window or I do not give attention to it, however I really feel like a window is like wanting into the long run and searching into one thing you’ll be able to’t management. All you are able to do is attempt to make…
— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) May 19, 2024
Daigneault stated he needed to make use of final evening’s ache as an funding. I requested Shai if he hopes to weaponize/harbor that feeling: “100%. The second I stepped off the court docket, it felt like, ‘nicely, we’re right here.’ We misplaced. We misplaced for a motive, and all you are able to do is study and get higher…
— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) May 19, 2024
“Once I fail and lose is after I’m most motivated”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) May 19, 2024
Shai on development forward:
“I will work on effectivity in each space. You possibly can all the time be higher defensively on and off the ball. Simply persevering with to ensure my sport would not hinder folks round me or hinder the event of my teammates, which is simply as vital as my improvement.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
SGA on whether or not this workforce has what it takes to win a championship:
“I really feel like we are able to do something we need to do..
If I advised somebody final season we’d be the #1 workforce within the West, they’d giggle at me.”
SGA says if the workforce places sufficient work in and does the suitable issues on and off…
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
SGA on his success and accolades:
“Generally I sit again and it’s surreal. Similar to the place I used to be a decade in the past and the place I’m now.
You’re all the time taught to dream massive and imagine in your self. Rising up, I used to be just a little delusional some would say…
However I all the time had a sense I’d…
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
“It is an honor to be a part of a workforce and group like this, that places the workforce first”
Kenrich Williams
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) May 19, 2024
Kenrich Williams was requested about calling Jalen Williams a future All Star his rookie season:
“Yeah I’m enthusiastic about being a GM sooner or later. [laughs]
He’s only a completely different sort of man. He’s received a unique sort of swag to him. You add that to the items and skills he has.”
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
Lu Dort “it’s painful…no person would really feel okay after dropping a playoff collection” stated they’ll use it as motivation and it’ll be behind his head “for the remainder of my profession, truthfully”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Lu Dort on this season:
“I’m actual proud. We battled all season.
We had pleasure simply being round one another.
We had a giant step from final season to subsequent season. I can’t wait to see what comes subsequent.”
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
Lu Dort “I imply, undoubtedly” when requested if he has targets of being on the All-Defensive workforce finally or the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Dort on his upcoming offseason:
“I will work on every little thing and attempt to sharpen my sport. I have been having the identical sport for the previous 5 seasons. It is gonna be the identical. I am not gonna flip into Shai in a single off season.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
Dort on Shai’s management:
“It is wonderful to see his preparation, how he will get prepared for video games. Then he by no means shies away from the large moments. As a teammate and a brother it is massive to see that and likewise, it offers me confidence to go on the market and be like, ‘I received your again’.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
Lu Dort on being acknowledged by gamers as a high defender however what must occur to be acknowledged with All Protection accolades:
“I feel they should watch our video games, actually [laughs]. We do the identical issues each evening.”
Dort says the workforce labored their approach as much as extra folks…
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
Isaiah Joe on beginning the ultimate playoff video games and what the dialog was like going into that pic.twitter.com/xxVw42utC3
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Joe on if he displays on OKC selecting him up 18 months in the past:
“On a regular basis. You possibly can always remember the place you got here from – the journey, the grind, that is what it is about. Pulling down obstacles in every single place you go. Simply proceed to develop as an individual, proceed to develop as a company.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
Isaiah Joe on the playoffs:
“It is a possibility I might by no means take with no consideration. It is actually intense on the market. The fan response on either side are all the time wonderful, at an all time excessive. It is simply an enormous honor to be in these positions to have the ability to play in these varieties of video games.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
Isaiah Joe:
“Guys, they give the impression of being inside the workforce for every little thing that they do… We do a very good job of staying inside ourselves, staying inside the workforce and no matter we do, no matter we’re engaged on, even off the court docket issues at any time when it involves representing OKC.”
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
Josh Giddey opened up about being faraway from the beginning 5 and the way he was a nasty teammate in Sport 1 however made a promise to himself to vary. pic.twitter.com/lyPCiB7kNl
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Josh Giddey “coach did what’s greatest for the workforce and to be sincere I in all probability agree with him” on him being benched
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
“Capturing is the large one” Josh Giddey stated that’s high of thoughts to enhance this summer time
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
I requested Josh Giddey what the conversations have been like main as much as him being benched this week given Mark Daigneault’s observe document of transparency and he talked about it was truly a dialog the 2 had earlier than the playoffs even started.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Josh Giddey “there’s been days you don’t really feel like getting off the bed…I’m simply fortunate to have folks round me that care”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Aaron Wiggins on what elements of the playoffs required expertise: “I simply suppose there have been instances on the court docket the place we would have had a sure variety of turnovers in a row or one thing. Perhaps with expertise we study to collect ourselves, decelerate just a little bit. Discover our rhythm.…
— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) May 19, 2024
Aaron Wiggins on Thunder followers:
“The gang, the followers, the environment.. Above and past.
In comparison with the place we performed [on the road], our followers are certainly one of a sort. Everybody wears the shirts.
The people who find themselves behind us, who root for us, goes a good distance.
It’s one a sort right here.”
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
Aaron Wiggins stated his greatest ability is “the power to be keen to do what it takes to win”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Lindy Waters III “The Pleasure of Oklahoma is one thing we attempt to specific to one another….We’re a really proud group”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Lindy Waters III on what he’s engaged on this summer time “Proceed to enhance on my well being, my physique, my thoughts, my spirit. Simply proceed to develop as a human being and I feel that can handle every little thing.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Lindy Waters III on Ousmane Dieng “I imagine he can be prepared for his alternative when his quantity is named.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 19, 2024
Up subsequent, Sam Presti will maintain his 2023-24 exit interview at a later date which can then ship the OKC Thunder absolutely into the offseason with the following assembled media assembly not till the NBA Draft in late June.
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