A latest survey carried out by ESPN noticed a gaggle of NBA insiders rank Oklahoma City eighth on its record of greatest managed groups in league. The Miami Heat sit atop the rankings whereas the Orlando Magic got here in on the backside of the record.
Miami has been a successful group for nearly the entire twenty first century. The Heat have made six NBA Finals appearances up to now 16 years, taking residence titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Orlando, on the opposite hand, has struggled to discover a workforce identification because the departure of Dwight Howard, who led the workforce to one in all its two finals appearances in 2009. Â
OKC, coming into its fifteenth season as an NBA franchise, earned its rating primarily based on an unimaginable run of success within the 2010s. From the 2009-10 season to 2019-20, the Thunder missed the playoffs just one time.Â
Oklahoma City shocked the league in its early years, notching a playoff look within the workforce’s second season, and a finals look within the group’s fourth 12 months in OKC. This stretch additionally noticed General Manager Sam Presti draft three future MVPs, two of which might win the award whereas taking part in for the Thunder.Â
OKC’s entrance workplace is adored by Thunder followers, and the workforce makes a robust effort to provide again to the Oklahoma group. The gamers and coaches go to historic, significant places such because the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and the Greenwood Rising Museum.Â
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The workforce even have a number of group engagement applications, together with the Thunder Fellows, an academic program aimed to assist underserved youth in Oklahoma. Thanks to the squad’s native involvement, the fan base’s love for the workforce grew stronger, and the Thunder have been in a position to promote out the Paycom Center for 350 consecutive video games.Â
Former Oklahoma City gamers have additionally praised the Thunder group. “First class organization from top to bottom,” massive man Kendrick Perkins stated on Showtime Basketball’s Forgotten Seasons Podcast. “Their practice facility is one of the best in the NBA, they have a great medical staff… They pour money back into their players. In OKC you’re going to be in great shape, you’re going to eat healthy. They do everything possible to make sure that they put you on the court to put you in position to be successful.”Â
Recently, the Thunder have obtained harsh criticism from followers and media members across the league, even going as far to be known as “the black eye of the NBA”. If Oklahoma City’s rebuild goes as Presti and the remainder of the OKC entrance workplace has mapped out, then the workforce shall be again on the mountain prime within the subsequent decade.Â
Presti started his tenure in OKC with the franchise on the backside of the NBA totem pole in metropolis that was comparatively new to the skilled sports activities market. The Thunder’s General Manager has already helped his workforce climb out of this place as soon as, creating optimism that he can achieve this as soon as once more.Â
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