Holmgren is untouchable, Says GM Sam Presti: “A pillar of our future”

No downsizing. No thoughts of tearing things down. During his annual end-of-season press conference, which lasted more than 100 minutes, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti laid out the franchise’s vision following the painful Game 7 elimination against the Spurs.

Chet is one of our pillars, a player who generates winning on so many levels. We’re talking about a first-year All-Star, the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year and a Third Team All-NBA selection. If we got past the Lakers in the previous rounds, it was largely because of him

Sam Presti

A clear and direct assessment that not only reaffirmed Chet Holmgren’s status within the organization, but also pushed back against the social media criticism surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

He’s a player who finds motivation internally. He doesn’t need people’s doubts or internet videos to work on his weaknesses. He’s been an underdog since high school, he’s used to skeptics, and he’s perfect for the Thunder. I’m not worried at all

Sam Presti

Presti’s first line of defense was reserved for Holmgren, who struggled throughout the series against San Antonio. His scoring average dropped from 17.1 to 10.7 points per game, bottoming out in the decisive Game 7 with just four points and two field-goal attempts. It was a difficult stretch, but despite heavy criticism – including comments from Perkins – it has done nothing to alter the organization’s view of the young big man.

Shortly afterward, the Thunder executive addressed one of the most heated debates in basketball circles: the criticism surrounding Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to draw fouls. Fresh off winning his second consecutive NBA MVP Award, Shai continues to face accusations of foul-baiting and exaggerating contact.

Shai plays against six people every night: five defenders on the court and the sixth is the social media machine. That’s the reality of our times. He won’t be the last player targeted by the system, but nobody handles that pressure with the same grace

Sam Presti

Presti then presented data and details to challenge the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander relies solely on drawing whistles. He pointed out that Shai is also an elite defender who rarely argues with officials – receiving only three technical fouls all season, one of which came for waving a towel in support of a teammate – and backed up his argument with hard numbers:

Let’s talk numbers. This season he drew 415 fouls. Do you know how many of those were challenged by opposing teams? Just 11. Of those, only four were overturned. That means only 2.5% of the calls were questionable; the rest were legitimate fouls. In fouls drawn, he’s right there with Joel Embiid, just behind Jaylen Brown and Victor Wembanyama. He belongs in that group because he’s brought the mid-range game back into style, and opponents simply don’t know how to stop him

Sam Presti

Finally, Presti addressed a crucial topic regarding Oklahoma City’s financial future. The Thunder’s young core is set to become significantly more expensive next season, with Holmgren and Jalen Williams both expected to receive maximum contract extensions worth five years and $239.2 million each. Those deals would push the team’s payroll beyond $250 million, placing Oklahoma City deep into the Luxury Tax and above the feared second apron.

Just because we’re in Oklahoma City doesn’t mean we have to think small or be afraid to spend compared to franchises in major coastal markets. If the team proves it’s competitive, ownership will invest. We have a plan in place

Sam Presti

Presti also holds team options on Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 million) and Luguentz Dort ($17.7 million), both of which must be addressed by June 29, while the franchise also owns three selections in the upcoming Draft.

The flexibility to reduce costs is certainly there, but the feeling around the organization is clear: OKC has no intention of taking a step backward. The dynasty-building process has only just begun, and Presti has no plans to dismantle it.