Is effort replicable? Is culture something that other teams can Xerox?To copy the Thunder blueprint, a team would have to routinely hit home runs in the draft, a notion that is easier said than done. Presti and his front office have continued to nail prospect evaluation and development at a higher rate than their peers. The franchise’s five top-5 picks since Presti took over basketball ops in 2007 — Kevin Durant (No. 2 in 2007), Russell Westbrook (No. 4 in 2008), James Harden (No. 3 in 2009), Jeff Green (No. 5 in 2007) and Chet Holmgren (No. 2 in 2022) — is the stuff of legend. The team also selected future All-Stars Jalen Williams (12th) and Domantas Sabonis (11th) outside of the top 10 in addition to NBA lifers Serge Ibaka (24th), Steven Adams (12th) and Reggie Jackson (24th).AdvertisementThis didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft, was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
This didn’t happen by accident. They picked up Lu Dort after he went undrafted in 2019 and developed him into an All-Defensive wing and a knockdown 3-point shooter. They grabbed Jalen Williams at No. 12 in the 2022 draft, an unheralded prospect who, until days before the draft,
was expected to be a late second-round pick. They took the paper-thin 7-foot Chet Holmgren at No. 2 in 2022, and he became one of the game’s elite rim protectors in his age-22 season. They traded up to take Cason Wallace at No. 10 in 2023, a defensive-minded guy who averaged 11.7 points at Kentucky, and he was starting games in the NBA Finals shy of his 22nd birthday.
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