Mark Daigneault Articles - Page 2

OKLAHOMA CITY — While reflecting on his team’s perfect 6-0 start to the regular season, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discussed how Isaiah Hartenstein’s impact can’t be overstated, including a recent win against the Dallas Mavericks. Amid the Thunder’s injuries to starters All-Star Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, Hartenstein praised Ajay Mitchell for […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams’ two-week set back in his recovery, coach Mark Daigneault teased that more playing time for rookie Brooks Barnhizer could be on the horizon. The second-round pick earned playing time off an impressive showing throughout training camp and preseason. In the first five games of his […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — After Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe suffered a knee injury in preseason, he made his regular-season debut in Thursday’s 127-108 win against the Washington Wizards, impressing coach Mark Daigneault in the process. Joe wasted no time in making his presence felt, draining two threes in his first five minutes off the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the first time since the announcement of Nikola Topic’s testicular cancer diagnosis, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed the guard’s health during his media availability. Before facing the Washington Wizards, Daigneault took the time to discuss the kind of person Topic is. Daigneault believes Topic couldn’t be in a […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the second consecutive game, head coach Mark Daigneault saw the Oklahoma City Thunder’s free-throw shooting differentials stand out in a box score that showed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempted only two free throws. After Gilgeous-Alexander attempted a whopping 26 free throws in a 141-135 double-overtime win against the Indiana Pacers, he went a […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Head coach Mark Daigneault and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 10-point, second-half deficit in Tuesday’s 107-101 win against the Sacramento Kings to remain undefeated through the first five games of the 2025-26 campaign. The Thunder were without starting forward Chet Holmgren, who joined a long list of injuries that […]

In a 101-94 loss to Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks’ first-overall pick, Cooper Flagg, had possibly the worst outing of his rookie campaign, thus far. He finished with two points on 1-for-9 shooting, including 0-for-3 from deep. Then, making matters worse, Chet Holmgren posterized Flagg on a transition dunk, which could […]

Mark Daigneault sang his praises toward Shai Gilgeous-Alexander following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s double overtime win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. Going into the game, the Thunder began their quest for a repeat, having won the NBA championship last season. A repeat would allow them to garner recognition as a potential dynasty in […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder reserve Ajay Mitchell gave his team a tremendous lift off the bench in a thrilling 125-124 double-overtime win against the Houston Rockets, which didn’t surprise head coach Mark Daigneault. With All-Star Jalen Williams (wrist surgery) and Isaiah Joe (knee) ruled out, Mitchell understood his assignment in the Thunder’s season […]

The NBA didn’t waste much time creating drama in its brand new 2025-26 NBA season. Kevin Durant made his debut for the Houston Rockets Tuesday night against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, but didn’t have the ideal result, as his team fell prey to the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder are chasing history as they begin their title defense. Fresh off a 68-14 record and their first championship since moving to OKC, the Thunder are positioned to chase a feat only two franchises have achieved. ESPN Insights highlighted the milestone on X, noting that Oklahoma City is chasing a spot alongside […]

The stage for the 2025 NBA Finals champion Oklahoma City Thunder’s last celebration is set before hosting the Houston Rockets, as coach Mark Daigneault negated the warning most champion head coaches give on Opening Night. “Don’t let the emotions of the ceremony distract you from the game,” or something to that effect, is often relayed. […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed the familiar face of former New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who has been around the team this week. The Thunder wrapped up its six-game preseason slate ahead of Opening Night of the regular season on Tuesday. With Thibodeau watching, Daigneault appreciates the time spent with […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Before Oklahoma City Thunder Ousmane Dieng’s game-winning three in its preseason finale, head coach Mark Daigneault got his first glimpse of the Denver Nuggets’ new offseason additions on Friday. From wing production, size, and shooting, the Nuggets addressed every need over the summer — trading for Cameron Johnson, signing Tim Hardaway Jr., […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault knows it’s easy to forget he’s still molding a handful of developmental players who are coming off a championship run. Daigneault pointed out the growth in Jalen Williams amid his first All-Star campaign last season, and while he’s working his way back from an offseason wrist surgery, Cason […]

The NBA is often considered a player-driven league, but don’t get it twisted, coaching is of the utmost importance. The world of head coaching was more hectic last year than perhaps ever before. Numerous coaches were fired in the middle of or late in the season, including Taylor Jenkins and Michael Malone. Teams are clearly […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s new documentary, “Loud City: The OKC Thunder Championship Season” on NBATV tells the story of the 2025 NBA champion, which includes a funny scene between coach Mark Daigneault and All-Star Jalen Williams. Less than a week before Thunder’s championship banner/ring ceremony at the Paycom Center, the documentary gives fans behind-the-scenes access […]

The individual improvements that the Oklahoma City Thunder players made haven’t gone unnoticed by their head coach, Mark Daigneault, who highlighted a handful of his guys. There are plenty of takeaways from Thunder’s preseason, including centers Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams’ physiques entering training camp. On the floor, Daigneault recognizes Cason Wallace from a basketball standpoint, […]

From the outset, head coach Mark Daigneault says Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knew who he was destined to be in the NBA. It was inevitable. Gilgeous-Alexander is driven to surpass Kobe Bryant, which, for some, makes sense after winning his first championship. However, for Daigneault, none of this comes as a surprise for […]

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chris Youngblood made the most of his opportunity in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Indiana Pacers, as the undrafted shooter continued to impress head coach Mark Daigneault. In a game where the Thunder were without Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell throughout the second half, Youngblood was the brightest spark off Daigneault’s […]

There is no denying that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win another championship entering the 2025-26 NBA season. What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren accomplished, leading this young Thunder squad to a title, was remarkable, but now comes the challenging part of it all: attempting to defend this championship. As […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the first time in the preseason, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault unleashed most of his starting lineup, as MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played at the Paycom Center for the first time since winning an NBA championship. Scoring 12 of his 16 points in the first quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander hit the ground […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder is heavily favored to win the 2026 NBA Finals in the association’s annual GM survey of all 30 teams. While analysts make bold predictions about the 2025-26 Thunder, including a 70-win regular season, Oklahoma City is picked to become the first repeat champions since 2017 ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off its preseason with a 135-114 win on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. After a competitive training camp for the champion Thunder, Oklahoma City saved its starters along with most of head coach Mark Daigneault’s rotation, which didn’t make the trip to Charleston, South Carolina. MVP Shai […]

From the outset of the 2025-26 season, improvement has been an underlying theme for head coach Mark Daigneault in Oklahoma City Thunder training camp, in preparation for the competition that awaits a defending champion. As the youngest team in the league, growth remains a priority, as veteran Alex Caruso reminded reporters of the two Game […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder used one of the deepest rotations in the NBA to secure the franchise’s first championship. With the start of the 2025-26 regular season on the horizon, the Thunder are favored to go back-to-back. Thanks to the addition of Nikola Topic to a crowded bench mob featuring Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace, […]

Hall of Fame forward and NBA analyst Charles Barkley says Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault made a critical mistake that nearly cost him the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. After sticking with his double-big lineup, featuring Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, throughout the Thunder’s playoff run, coach Daigneault changed his starting […]

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams recalled the moment every rookie goes through that stays with them for a lifetime. After winning his first title, Williams agreed to a $287 million extension with the Thunder. In 2024-25, he became an All-Star, earned All-Defensive Second Team, and made the All-NBA Third Team. Still, Jalen remembers when […]

The NBA released the 2025-26 regular season schedule on Thursday. Now, teams around the league have an idea of what next season could look like. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, defending their first title an franchise history figures to be a challenge. However, reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are ready […]

Before the Oklahoma City Thunder signed Thomas Sorber to a multi-year deal, head coach Mark Daigneault revealed his first impressions of the 15th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Daigneault highlighted the kinds of qualities the Thunder look for in a young prospect. For Daigneault, Sorber’s reputation and approach make him an ideal prospect […]

Recently, the Oklahoma City Thunder hoisted the first NBA championship trophy in franchise history thanks to a Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. It was a resounding vindication that had been defying the odds all year. One of the main sources of doubt regarding this Thunder team was their youth–in […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder turned Sunday into a crucial workday. Locking in new contracts. The NBA Finals champions presented a $24 million deal to Jaylin Williams Sunday. But didn’t stop signing checks after. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania revealed who signed next with OKC. “The Oklahoma City Thunder intend to sign guard Ajay Mitchell to […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder quickly shifted to building the roster mode following their victory parade. The NBA Finals champions had 24 hours to prepare for the Wednesday NBA Draft. OKC did indeed make one intriguing selection. Taking Nique Clifford at No. 24 overall out of Colorado State. But the thoughts of Clifford teaming with Shai […]

Jim Calhoun has seen legends rise. He has coached some of the biggest names in college basketball and built UConn into a powerhouse. But even with all the banners hanging in Storrs, there is one name Calhoun believes still deserves a spotlight. That name is Mark Daigneault. Before leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder etched their names into the NBA record books. They capped off their 68-14 campaign with a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers, snatching Game 7 inside the Paycom Center. OKC’s 2024-25 team now rearranges this league list. The Thunder joins the 1968 Philadelphia 76ers as 68-win teams who won the title. […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder witnessed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a level of greatness never seen in franchise history. He capped his Most Valuable Player winning performance by leading OKC to its first-ever NBA Finals victory Sunday. But he deferred the credit to a “once in a lifetime” player after beating the Indiana Pacers. That generational talent […]

Roundball fans will fire up the televisions or smart phones for Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Sunday evening contest will crown a first time champion between either the Indiana Pacers or Oklahoma City Thunder. Climactic sequences are imminent inside the Paycom Center. Making the game feel like a movie. Well, the NBA got […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — As experience between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers was a storyline throughout the NBA Finals, Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams deemed the shifted focus towards Mark Daigneault and Rick Carlisle unnecessary ahead of Game 7. Daigneault is one win away from his first championship. His five years of experience include […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a chance to seal a historic NBA championship by defeating the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 on Thursday. Instead, the Pacers did something they have shown a constant ability to do this season: flip the script. Their 91-108 win over OKC came despite none of their starters scoring more than […]