MAPPED | TRUST PRESTI'S PROCESS: THE RISE OF THE 2025 NBA CHAMPIONS

The Oklahoma City Thunder, like most great teams, revolve around three core players.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the undisputed leader—the top scorer, the face of the franchise, and the one collecting the accolades. Jalen Williams, meanwhile, thrives as the ultimate second fiddle. He’s OKC’s version of Scottie Pippen, Jaylen Brown, or Khris Middleton—an elite sidekick who could easily become a star elsewhere but has embraced his role next to SGA.

Then there’s Chet Holmgren. Drafted second overall, he entered the league with massive expectations. But with SGA’s emergence as a superstar, Holmgren has taken on more of a supporting role, drawing comparisons to Chris Bosh or Kevin Love from the Miami and Cleveland Big Threes. But that’s where the similarities stop.

The Thunder’s “Big Three” wasn’t formed through blockbuster free-agent signings like Miami (LeBron James #1, Dwayne Wade #5, Bosh #4) or Cleveland (LeBron #1, Kyrie Irving #1, Love #5).

OKC’s trio—SGA (#11), Jalen Williams (#12), and Holmgren (#2)—averages out to a draft position of 8.3.

Not exactly a super team on paper.

And it wasn't formed by tanking for top picks, the way Philadelphia tried to create their "Trust the Process" situation.

And yet, that’s what makes the Thunder special.

Unlike traditional super teams, this OKC squad wasn’t built to dominate instantly.

They were built to grow—PROPERLY.

Look around the league. Denver’s core featured a second-rounder in Nikola Jokic and a #7 pick in Jamal Murray. Milwaukee had Giannis Antetokounmpo at #15 and Khris Middleton in the second round. Toronto? Kawhi Leonard was a #15 pick, Kyle Lowry at #24, and Pascal Siakam at #27. But these teams never really had a Big Three, or in Toronto's case, they were more of an ensemble with a superstar that have already led a team to a title.

In fact, if we’re talking about the "super team that got away," it would’ve been the original OKC trio: Kevin Durant (#2), James Harden (#3), and Russell Westbrook (#4).

But Sam Presti, instead of chasing stars, built this current contender by flipping them.

When Presti traded away Russell Westbrook, he didn’t just get Chris Paul. He got a treasure trove of picks—including one that would become 2024 first-rounder Nikola Topić.

That trade happened five seasons ago.

Wow.

PLAYER	VIA	YEAR	DETAILS
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER	TRADE	2019	FROM LAC | PAUL GEORGE TRADE
CHET HOLMGREN	DRAFT	2022	2022 NBA DRAFT | 2ND OVERALL
JALEN WILLIAMS	DRAFT	2022	PICK FROM LAC | PAUL GEORGE TRADE
LU DORT	FA	2019	2019 NBA DRAFT | UNDRAFTED
ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN	FA	2024	LAST PLAYED | NEW YORK KNICKS
ALEX CARUSO	TRADE	2024	FROM CHI | JOSH GIDDEY TRADE
CASON WALLACE	TRADE	2023	FROM DAL | DERECK LIVELY TRADE
AARON WIGGINS	DRAFT	2021	FROM GSW | KELLY OUBRE TRADE
ISAIAH JOE	FA	2022	LAST PLAYED | PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
JAYLIN WILLIAMS	DRAFT	2022	2022 NBA DRAFT | 34TH OVERALL
KENRICH WILLIAMS	TRADE	2020	FROM NOR | STEVEN ADAMS TRADE
DILLON JONES	DRAFT	2024	PICK FROM LAC | PAUL GEORGE TRADE
AJAY MITCHELL	TRADE	2024	DRAFT DAY TRADE FROM NYK | OSO IGHODARO
OUSMANE DIENG	TRADE	2022	FROM NYK | 2023 FIRST ROUND PICK
NIKOLA TOPIC	DRAFT	2024	PICK FROM HOU | WESTBROOK/PAUL TRADE

When Presti dealt Paul George to the Clippers, he landed SGA and Jalen Williams, plus a pick swap in 2025 and a first-rounder in 2026.

Presti didn’t chase top picks through tanking like Sam Hinkie. He played the long game—gathering assets, evaluating talent, and being patient. OKC cycled through a revolving door of young talent: Darius Bazley, Tre Mann, Isaiah Roby, Aleksej Pokusevski, Josh Giddey, and more. Not everyone stuck, but the Thunder always found value—even in the undrafted pool, as seen in the case of defensive demon Lu Dort.

And now, after years of careful planning, the OKC Thunder finally won their first NBA championship.

They did it the right way: flipping stars for value, staying under budget, developing homegrown talent, and making smart free-agent moves—like landing Isaiah Hartenstein.

Next on the to-do list: extend the contracts of Jalen Williams and Holmgren. But even now, they’re in a great place.

The Oklahoma City Thunder isn’t just a championship team, thanks to Sam Presti. It’s also a living blueprint on how to build one.