What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, reigning NBA champion OKC Thunder said at 2025 media day

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What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, reigning NBA champion OKC Thunder said at 2025 media day

Justin Martinez, Joe Mussatto, Jordan Davis, Jacob Unruh and Jeff Patterson, The Oklahoman · The Oklahoman

Mon, Sep 29, 2025 ·

20 min read

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With the 2025-26 NBA season approaching, the reigning champion OKC Thunder is holding its annual media day on Monday, Sept. 29.

Training camp opens Tuesday for the Thunder , which opens preseason play on the road Sunday, Oct. 5, against the Charlotte Hornets in Charleston, South Carolina.

OKC's season opener is against the Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Paycom Center.

Here's what head coach Mark Daigneault , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. had to say:

OKC Thunder schedule release 2025-26: See all 82 NBA games, dates for reigning champions

Watch OKC Thunder media day live

Kenrich Williams injury update: Thunder forward will have arthroscopic procedure on knee

Cason Wallace jokes teammates were 'ball hogs' with Larry O'Brien Trophy

One of the fun surprises for Thunder fans in the aftermath of OKC winning the NBA title was seeing players post photos on social media of their time with the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Sadly for guard Cason Wallace, he wasn't one of them. The third-year guard wasn't able to get any one-on-one time with the trophy.

Blame his teammates.

"They're ball hogs," Wallace joked.

"I didn't know about the rules and regulations with the trophy. So, I didn't get it. That was my fault."

—Jeff Patterson, Sports editor

Jaylin Williams is 'blessed' to have found a home with the Thunder

The first thing Jaylin Williams did once he signed a three-year, $24 million contract this offseason was FaceTime his father and his three brothers.

It was a special moment for the 23-year-old forward, who's usually as talkative as anyone on the Thunder's roster. But even he had no words.

"I think we all cried," Williams said. "We all just were on FaceTime looking at each other crying, so it meant a lot just being able to provide for my family and provide for the people around me."

After joining the Thunder in 2022 as a second-round pick, Williams has found a home in OKC. Literally.

He recently purchased a new house in town, and it'll be the site of family gatherings during the holidays moving forward.

"It's big enough now to where my family is going to come celebrate Christmas with me and Thanksgiving with me," Williams said. "I'm super thankful that Sam (Presti), Mark (Daigneault) and the whole Thunder organization believes in me."

Williams earned that belief. He has provided solid production off the bench as a versatile big man throughout the years, and his contribution to the team's strong chemistry is also invaluable.

It's a role that doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. But that isn't a concern for Williams, who's just happy to be a part of the Thunder family.

"Everything is a blessing," Williams said. "Every time I step on the court. Every time I tie my shoes. Every time I do a layup. Anytime I do anything, I'm blessed to be there. If I'm sitting on the bench, watching those guys go out there and kill whoever they're playing against, I'm blessed to be there."

—Justin Martinez, Staff writer

Nikola Topić eager for fresh start after lost rookie season

The offseason was the ultimate litmus test for Nikola Topić.

After missing his entire rookie year with a partially torn ACL in his left knee, the Thunder guard finally stepped back on the court at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He responded with a steady showing, averaging 10.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds across six games.

His shooting efficiency — 33.3% from the field and 20.8% from three — still needs work and was a sign of rust, but for Topić, the bigger victory was simply playing again.

"Just to play the game I love again was pretty amazing," Topic said. "Later on it was all better and I think it will only get better."

Topić remains one of the Thunder's most intriguing young pieces.

Drafted 12th overall in 2024, the 20-year-old was pegged as a complementary playmaking guard in OKC's dynamic offense.

Now, that projection becomes reality.

"I'm excited to get to know them, try to make them better and just to try to help my team get as many wins as we can get," Topic said.

"I think I will help them, maybe get the ball up the court or something like that. And just make some passes, get defense off their backs, like try to get attention to some other way. Try to free them up."

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

Isaiah Joe focusing on controllables entering new season

Isaiah Joe knows exactly where his focus needs to be.

The Thunder guard is coming off the best year of his career — 10.2 points per game in nearly 22 minutes, with a sharp 41.2 percent clip from deep. His shooting gave OKC's second unit a jolt all season. But when the playoffs arrived, Joe was squeezed out of the rotation.

Rather than sulk, Joe wants to control the controllables this season.

"For me, it's just about doing what I need to do," Joe said. "Those aren't the decisions I gotta make whenever I go out there. I think it's very fortunate that we have a lot of guys that can really compete. It only makes us better."

His offseason was eventful. It was highlighted by a trip to the Philippines and a parade with Thunder big man and high school teammate Jaylin Williams in their hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

But now, the return of training camp means it's back to business as usual for Joe.

"My job is to focus on basketball, continue to grow personally and continue to find ways to help the team win," Joe said.

"Any winning play that I can make, I will try to make it. This organization, the team that we have, they make it easy. So all we have to do is focus on ourselves and go out there and do whatever we can to win games."

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

Branden Carlson excited to join Thunder at beginning of season

Branden Carlson didn't get the full season experience with the Thunder last season.

A November addition, he was up and down, signing two 10-day contracts before signing a two-way deal in February.

And he became a valuable addition to the point that general manager Sam Presti praised him last week before training camp.

"I think it's always great to get a little ego boost like that," Carlson said. "But it really is just like the always doing the little things. And it's always just kind of having the mindset of what you do when no one is watching still. And I'm going to be the same whether or not I'm going to get the recognition or don't."

Carlson just agreed to another two-way deal with the Thunder late last week.

It was a moment that brought joy.

"Yeah, I was super excited," Carlson said. "I think it's great to be here from — obviously last season I came in partially through and I was back and forth on different contracts.

"So being here from the start of the season, I think just being around the guys, the team, learning from the very beginning. I'm very excited for this opportunity. And what I can take away from being with the team for a full amount of time."

—Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor

Chet Holmgren feels 'great' entering training camp

Chet Holmgren's summer was anything but ordinary. And it could set the stage for his biggest season yet.

The Thunder big man inked a rookie maximum contract extension in July, a five-year deal worth up to $250 million, cementing him as a cornerstone of Oklahoma City 's future. He also brought the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota .

But amid the celebrations, Holmgren said his top priority was his body.

"I feel a lot better," Holmgren said.

"Last summer, I didn't have the time that I needed to kind of get my body to where it needed to be to feel great. I'd make all the same decisions again, but I didn't have the time that I needed to kind of get my body to where it needed to be to feel great. So that was a big emphasis this summer in the weight room."

That reset could be pivotal.

Holmgren's second season already established him as one of the league's premier rim protectors, averaging 2.2 blocks per game and anchoring the Thunder's defense. He flashed an offensive versatility that makes him one of the NBA's most unique big men, but teammates believe there's far more to come.

"He's only scratching the surface," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Holmgren isn't shying away from that challenge.

"You really just have to attack every day with the right intentions," Holmgren said. "It's really just, it's a never-ending process. There's no guarantees of what I will get to, what I won't get to. But I'm always going to chase the best outcome."

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

Isaiah Hartenstein making lasting impact in OKC community

Isaiah Hartenstein vividly remembers one of his first stops in Oklahoma last year.

Walking through the OKC National Memorial & Museum and learning about the 1995 bombing and the city's resilience struck a chord with Hartenstein.

It's long been a Thunder tradition for new players and employees to visit the Memorial, but there might not be many players who appreciate that community aspect more than the OKC center.

"I think the city came together, and I don't think you see that a lot with different circumstances and how anyone in the streets would give their T-shirts off their back to help the situation," Hartenstein said Monday.

Just five days earlier, Hartenstein dedicated a basketball court for the Northeast Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County. It was just the latest stop for The Hartenstein Foundation, which has held community events ever since he joined the Thunder last summer.

"For me, after seeing that, I really wanted to uphold the Oklahoma standard and kind of really be engrained in the community and really find ways to make a real impact," he said. "I'm not just trying to drop off a check and say here, 'Here you go.' I mean, for me, it's how do I make a long lasting impact, and yeah."

Hartenstein made a sizable impact on the court as well for the Thunder, averaging 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds per game last season.

—Jeff Patterson, sports editor

Where did Aaron Wiggins ' famous speech come from?

From now on, Aaron Wiggins is giving all of the speeches.

Well, only if his Thunder teammates have their way after they saw his passionate speech ahead of the NBA championship parade in June.

"They tried to say I would have every speech that anybody is supposed to give," Wiggins joked.

In a parade full of big moments, perhaps none was bigger than Wiggins' speech inside Paycom Center when he said the Thunder went from being perceived as the "black hole of the NBA" to champions.

The speech went viral.

And it'll live in Thunder history forever.

"I saw a lot of fan reaction and different interactions and stuff on social media and stuff," Wiggins said. "I'm just happy I was able to have that moment with the fans, the city, our team. It was pretty awesome."

But perhaps the biggest question is where did that exactly come from? Sure, Wiggins is the man who saved basketball, but has he always had the public speaking skills?

Growing up in North Carolina, he said he became a natural public speaker. Then it grew from there in college at Maryland.

"I was a communications major, took some journalism classes and minor in leadership studies and had a lot of public speaking classes and presentations I had to give," Wiggins said. "But at a young age, I was in front of my church. I was in front of the school. I did a lot of things with a microphone in my hands, so kind of natural at this point."

—Jacob Unruh, Staff writer

Alex Caruso knows life as a defending champ

Alex Caruso won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. The next season, in 2020-21, the Lakers lost in the first round to the Suns .

As the Thunder begins its title defense, the 31-year-old Caruso hopes this situation is different.

"We have to have the self awareness and acknowledge that playing with the target on your back as the defending champion is different," Caruso said.

Caruso is entering his second season with the Thunder. He only played in 54 regular-season games — the Thunder was careful in managing his minutes — but he played in all 23 playoff games.

Caruso shot 41% from 3-point range in the playoffs and was a monster defensively.

"Seats fill up a little easier," Caruso said of defending a title. "People start making shots when they don't normally make shots. Things are stacked against you a little bit. But that's part of what being great takes — being a championship, being No. 1 and then backing it up and seeing what you can do next."

—Joe Mussatto, Columnist

Ousmane Dieng details productive offseason and approach fourth season

Ousmane Dieng took a new approach to the NBA offseason.

Of course, attacking workouts was the top priority. But another factor he looked to change was his diet.

"I was gaining some weight," Dieng said. "I think I really improved in that. And I feel the changes mentally and physically on the court.

Despite not seeing the floor much last season, Dieng cherished his third year.

He helped guide the OKC Blue to a G League title in 2024 before the Thunder's championship in June.

The now fourth-year forward averaged just below four points in his 37 games last season in limited minutes. But his approach now? Continue getting better and staying ready.

"We have a really good team and a really deep team," Dieng said. "I'm just staying ready, waiting for my name to get called. I'm here to help the team win."

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

Jalen Williams ' wrist injury was a 'blessing in disguise'

This past season was a blur for Jalen Williams .

The 24-year-old forward earned All-Star, All-NBA third team and All-Defensive second team selections. He dropped 40 points in an NBA Finals game and helped OKC win its first title. And he signed a five-year, maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million.

Williams was then forced to slow down this offseason, as he recovered from a torn ligament in his right shooting wrist . But he doesn't view the injury as a setback.

"I think it was a good blessing in disguise," Williams said. "It allowed me to take care of my body and not go full throttle. With the short offseason, it's kind of hard to manage how much you want to work out. So it actually made me take a break, which was nice."

Of course, Williams still found ways to work on his game during the recovery process. That included working on his handles and even his shooting form with his left hand.

"I got my work in, for sure," Williams said. "I've still got some ways to go with it. But yeah, I got work in. It forced me to be really creative, me and my trainers who I had in my camp. It's hard to do the same drills over and over again, especially when you're in a cast. So we got pretty creative as the summer progressed."

Williams shed his wrist brace earlier this month. He'll continue to take it day by day, as OKC prepares to begin preseason play Sunday with a game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charleston, South Carolina.

"Once we get through camp, we'll see where we are," general manager Sam Presti said during his preseason press conference on Thursday. "As with anything, it'll be a collaborative decision as to when he returns. Ultimately, he has to feel comfortable with when that is."

—Justin Martinez, Staff writer

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander embraces goal to repeat as NBA champion

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't mince words when asked about the Thunder's quest to repeat as champs.

"It would suck to lose the NBA championship in 2026," Gilgeous-Alexander said matter-of-factly. "That's the new focus. That's the new goal."

Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off an MVP season. He won the scoring title and won Finals MVP. He made his third consecutive All-Star team.

Speaking of All-Star, it's been widely reported that the NBA is interested in a Ryder Cup-type format with American players competing against international players.

The top-three players in MVP voting last season are all international: SGA, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo .

SGA said he would reserve judgment on the new format until he actually makes the team again.

Gilgeous-Alexander returned to his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, this offseason.

"I couldn't imagine as a kid the (Larry O'Brien trophy) coming to Hamilton. "I tried to flip perspective and think about it that way. But yeah, it was special, and I'm glad the city and the fans got to enjoy that moment a little bit as I have.

"They deserve it."

—Joe Mussatto, Columnist

Ajay Mitchell 's NBA Finals experience a boost for sophomore campaign

Ajay Mitchell's breakout rookie season was derailed by a toe injury. But he still found a role in the postseason.

Including the NBA Finals.

Mitchell appeared in four games, scoring two points apiece in two of the games. And though the numbers don't jump off the page, there is value there.

"It was a great experience for me," Mitchell said. "I think as a rookie, being able to play in the NBA Finals was really huge for me. I think it's a whole other level. And for me, it was a great learning experience. I think it made me want to have more of that."

Mitchell averaged 6.5 points in 16.6 minutes per game during the regular season. He missed three months with the injury before playing in the final two games of the regular season.

His minutes were limited in the postseason run.

But they can only help moving forward this season.

"All I'm focused on is keeping my head down, working hard and helping this team win and do what we have to do to get back there," Mitchell said.

—Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor

Lu Dort details NBA offseason and approach to 2025-26 NBA season

The summer was rich for Lu Dort.

An NBA title. Traveling around the country with family and friends. He even brought a new friend to his hometown of — the Larry O'Brien trophy.

It was the highlight of the 26-year-old's offseason.

"We had a lot of fun," Dort said. "And also got to bring the trophy to my neighborhood. It was fun. A lot of people showed up, a lot of kids. It was just great being able to do that event for my people."

Entering his seventh season, Dort enters unfamiliar territory.

He stands as one of the earliest members of the franchise dating back to the 2019-20 season. With the defense of a title now in the balance, Dort doesn't want to change his approach.

"We know what to do and we know it's going to be a long run," Dort said. "It's a long season. So we'll try our best to get better and to approach every single day to get better. And then we'll see where we end up."

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

Mark Daigneault's life has not changed after NBA title

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault might be recognized in public more than before after guiding the team to a NBA title.

But that doesn't mean his life has changed.

"Not much, to be honest with you," Daigneault said to open OKC's media day Monday morning at Paycom Center. "You're in the cycle of the season, the cycle of the offseason. The season ended and we had the draft, we had summer league, we onboard new players, players got into their offseason stuff.

"And the only changes my life has taken on is with our kids and our family. We have a young family. But that's been the most change I've experienced."

Still, the Thunder enters this season with way more expectations.

The organization knows it. The fans know it.

So much so that they still approach Daigneault with suggestions, good and bad.

He did not reveal what suggestions, but he's welcomed the support from the fan base as the Thunder enters the season looking to repeat.

"The fans in town, the one thing I'll say is everyone's been so supportive of the team," Daigneault said, "I've always said that the fan base puts the wind at our backs. I'm so excited that our fans are as excited as they are about this team.

"It gives us a great sense of responsibility as we start another season."

—Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor

When does OKC Thunder begin 2025-26 NBA season?

OKC will play six preseason games, beginning with a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, Oct. 5 in Charleston, South Carolina.

OKC will then tip off the regular season with a home game against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21. It'll also be ring night for the reigning champion Thunder .

More: What OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti said about defending NBA title, injury updates & more

2025-26 OKC Thunder training camp roster

Zack Austin, F, 6-5, 216 pounds
* Brooks Barnhizer , F, 6-5, 227 pounds
* Branden Carlson , C, 7-0, 236 pounds
Alex Caruso , G, 6-5, 187 pounds
Ousmane Dieng , F, 6-10, 223 pounds
Lu Dort , G/F, 6-4, 222 pounds
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , G, 6-6, 200 pounds
Jazian Gortman , G, 6-1, 175 pounds
Isaiah Hartenstein , C, 7-0, 267 pounds
Chet Holmgren , F/C, 7-1, 213 pounds
Isaiah Joe , G, 6-5, 178 pounds
Malevy Leons , F, 6-9, 203 pounds
Ajay Mitchell , G, 6-4, 205 pounds
Thomas Sorber , C, 6-9, 268 pounds (Inactive due to injury)
Nikola Topić , G, 6-6, 218 pounds
Cason Wallace , G, 6-4, 200 pounds
Aaron Wiggins , G/F, 6-6, 200 pounds
Jalen Williams , G/F, 6-6, 220 pounds
Jaylin Williams , F/C, 6-10, 241 pounds
Kenrich Williams , G/F, 6-7, 207 pounds
Chris Youngblood, G, 6-4, 221 pounds

*On a two-way contract

NBA power rankings: Who is OKC Thunder's biggest threat entering season?

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder said at 2025 media day

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