WWLS The Sports Animal is set to bring you another exciting season of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball on the Thunder Radio Network with the voice, Matt Pinto, plus anchored by Thunder Radio Network hosts Gideon Hamilton and Matt Ravis.
Monday, Oct. 2nd was the 2023 Thunder Media Day held at the OKC Convention Center. The players got fresh new photos and videos, held press conferences and spoke to the media about the upcoming 2023-24 OKC Thunder Season. Check out the interviews below with Thunder players and Head Coach Mark Daigneault.
The 2023 Thunder Pre-Season begins Monday, Oct. 9th as the Thunder hosts the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center at 7pm.
Media Day notes from Thunder Radio Network host Gideon Hamilton
Thunder Media Day 2023 was a day filled with enthusiasm about the upcoming season. After a year of anticipation, Oklahoma City’s #2 overall draft pick from a season ago Chet Holmgren will finally see NBA action.
Holmgren talked about turning a negative into a positive by being able to study the game from next to the court. He also feels like he is a good fit with the Thunder system. “Whether on offense or defense, protecting the rim, spacing the court, shooting. I feel like there are many areas where I can help the team raise our floor and fight for our ceiling.”
Holmgren’s teammates are also excited to have him be a part of the franchise this year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “We’re excited to have Chet back. He’s a big-time competitor. I think he just wants to win, when you add a guy like that to a group of players that want to win as well, most of the time, it goes well.”
Oklahoma City begins pre-season play October 9th against San Antonio.
Media Day notes from just announced Thunder Radio Network co-host Matt Ravis
One thing stood out above the rest as we spoke with Thunder players today: there are no shortcuts. This is a group that grinds in the offseason.
Canadian tandem Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort both said the extra work that came with preparing for their gold medal run at the FIBA World Cup will help them despite the quick turnaround and extra mileage. Josh Giddey, Davis Bertans, and Jack White also competed, for a total of five players to represent OKC between three national teams.
Head coach Mark Daigneault seemed pleased with having so many players represented: “The thing we don’t totally wrap our head around is just the game pressure…it’s a really unique context. That game pressure really sharpens your blade as a competitor.”
As far as Chet Holmgren goes? Daigneault said it’s “day zero” for him, pointing out that he hasn’t played in organized competition since the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
The second-overall pick lost his would-be rookie season to a Lisfranc injury last August. It was understandably tough for him to remain patient. “After my injury happened, I realized I could either compound the issue and keep spiraling, or make the most out of it,” Holmgren told us. He is cleared to play to start the season.
We will have our first chance to see the fruits of the offseason when the Thunder open their preseason October 9th against the San Antonio Spurs at 7pm.