Mark Daigneault Articles - Page 2

OKLAHOMA CITY — At the risk of surrendering a third consecutive loss, head coach Mark Daigneault watched All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drain a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line as the game clock expired to carry the Oklahoma City Thunder into overtime against the Utah Jazz. Thunder coming off of back-to-back losses to the Phoenix Suns […]

On Monday, the defending champion OKC Thunder were shocked when the Charlotte Hornets won 124-97. In the process, the Hornets officially ended the Thunder’s 45-game winning streak over teams with losing records, per ClutchPoints. Afterwards, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gave props to the Hornets, per Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman/Yahoo Sports. “Credit to them,” […]

After a 131-94 win against the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams was in-depth about his return from two wrist surgeries and how head coach Mark Daigneault consistently challenges his team. The Thunder reached its 30th win in 35 tries on Friday, matching last season’s 30-5 record, as Oklahoma City continues its […]

In a 124-95 win against the Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched backup guard Ajay Mitchell score 17 points without missing a shot. The Thunder’s defense staved off the Trail Blazers in the second half. Mitchell went 4-for-4 from the floor, including one three, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched veteran Alex Caruso enter Monday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks 3-for-15 from deep in his last two outings, which didn’t discourage the guard’s offense in a 140-129 win. While Daigneault gushed over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth as a scorer over the years, he commended Caruso’s confidence. Caruso finished […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — As the Oklahoma City Thunder’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is considered an early candidate to win the illustrious award in back-to-back seasons, coach Mark Daigneault addressed the growth he’s seen. Gilgeous-Alexander is regarded as a clear MVP favorite, especially following Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic’s recent knee injury, which will keep the […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault offered an update on Nikola Topic after the rookie participated in pregame shootaround before the previous two home games at the Paycom Center, following his testicular cancer diagnosis. Fans were thrilled to see Topic on the floor during Thunder pregame shootaround. Daigneault commended Topic’s approach amid cancer treatment, […]

After losing to the San Antonio Spurs for a third time in 12 days, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault has had more than a day to digest what went awry for the defending champions. During his postgame media availability, Daigneault gave Victory Wembanyama and the Spurs their flowers, while emphasizing San Antonio’s approach extends […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the third time in two weeks, the San Antonio Spurs defeated head coach Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder with a limited Victor Wembanyama, coming off the bench, in a 117-102 Christmas Day loss. With that kind of successful ratio, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander considers the Spurs a better team than the […]

Following the worst loss of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault says the San Antonio Spurs’ “statement” win gives his team plenty to learn from between now and Christmas Day. After Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received “Flopper” chants from Spurs fans, perhaps some home cooking at the Paycom Center will help the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort entered Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies shooting 29.8% from deep, while averaging 6.3 points in December, but coach Mark Daigneault wasn’t concerned. While some wondered whether Cason Wallace should be permanently starting over Dort, Daigneault dismissed that notion without elaborating after a 119-103 Thunder win over the Grizzlies. […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 100 consecutive games in a 119-103 win against the Memphis Grizzlies, which earned a reaction from coach Mark Daigneault. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points on 11-of-20 attempts, including 3-for-4 from deep, leading the Thunder to its 26th win […]

The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder played on Christmas Day — the NBA’s annual showcase of its best teams — was in 2018, when head coach Mark Daigneault was still leading the team’s G League squad. Before winning a title, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expressed disappointment over the Thunder being left off the Christmas Day schedule […]

Not many players in the history of the NBA have been able to say they won a championship in their first NBA season. Even fewer are able to say they’ve done so after starting their career on a two-way contract. Ajay Mitchell achieved both of these feats with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2024-25 […]

A whopping 12 of 16 Oklahoma City Thunder players under coach Mark Daigneault have spent time in the G League, a trend that runs through the defending champion’s culture. From Lu Dort to a two-time champion and All-Defensive guard in veteran Alex Caruso, whose NBA career started with Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Blue — […]

On Saturday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder saw their 16-game winning streak come to an end with a narrow loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinal round of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas. The Thunder didn’t get much going from the outside in this game and saw relatively quiet games from Jalen […]

Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder came up short against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, losing the NBA Cup semifinals, 111-109. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder fought back until the end, but came up short down the stretch. After the Thunder loss to the Spurs, Daigneault highlighted Wembanyama’s impact throughout the night, […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed his team’s unprecedented 16-game winning streak after eliminating the Phoenix Suns in a 138-89 blowout win in the NBA Cup quarterfinal. The Thunder’s near-perfect start extended its 24-1 record, tying the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best start in NBA history through 25 […]

At this point, it seems the only way to stop the Oklahoma City Thunder is to cancel the season entirely. The Thunder have only lost once in 24 games and remain undefeated at home in 11 outings. To do away with hyperboles: They’re great. They will put their 15-game winning streak on the line on […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault reacted to his defense stifling Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis, holding the 10-time All-Star to two points on 1-for-9 shooting in a 132-111 blowout victory. The Thunder extended its winning streak to 13 straight. Daigneault highlighted Thunder forward Kenrich Williams and center Jaylin Williams as Davis’ primary […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid the drama between the Los Angeles Clippers front office and Chris Paul parting ways, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault revealed what he’ll remember most about the future Hall of Fame guard. Paul, who spent the 2019-20 season with the Thunder, took on a leadership role among Oklahoma City’s young […]

Amid Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams’ regular-season debut in Saturday’s NBA Cup win against the Phoenix Suns, head coach Mark Daigneault and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander watched Ajay Mitchell limp off the floor with a left knee contusion. The extended list of injuries feels endless for the defending champion. However, it hasn’t disrupted the Thunder’s winning […]

Down the stretch of a 123-119 victory, coach Mark Daigneault watched his Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star forward Jalen Williams remain steady in his regular-season debut in an NBA Cup game against the Phoenix Suns. Daigneault says Williams looked almost as if he’d been with the team all along, amid a 19-1 league-leading start to the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — After connecting on a dagger-3 to push the Thunder’s lead to four in the final minute of Wednesday’s 113-105 NBA Cup win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chet Holmgren discussed Mark Daigneault’s influence. Daigneault challenged the Thunder to play better after one of Oklahoma City’s hardest-fought regular-season wins. After the win, Holmgren credited […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder stretched their winning streak to 10 games to improve to an 18-1 record in the regular season in a 113-105 NBA Cup victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After Thunder veteran guard Alex Caruso warned his team about the daunting stretch of games, starting with a […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dragged himself to the arena feeling sick. He left it with 40 points, another win, and a head coach shaking his head in disbelief. The Oklahoma City Thunder star powered a 113-105 NBA Cup victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, extending Oklahoma City’s winning streak to 10 games and bumping its record […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams’ 19th consecutive absence, head coach Mark Daigneault reminded reporters of the rigorous process that the All-Star forward is currently facing. With no date set for Williams’ return, the Thunder will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game without him. Before the Thunder’s […]

For head coach Mark Daigneault, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 17-1 dominant start is a testament to a standard set by a team coming off its first championship with something to prove. As Chet Holmgren said: the Thunder is still striving for more in 2025-26 and far from a finished product. Daigneault says the Thunder has […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — In light of Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul announcing his retirement at the end of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault took time to share how the future Hall of Fame guard is an excellent example for Chet Holmgren. After the Thunder improved to 17-1 in Sunday’s win against the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault set the record straight on whether his team’s success and depth delay specific timetables for his players’ return from injuries. As the defending champion Thunder entered Sunday’s matchup with a list of injuries, including All-Star Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins, and Kenrich Williams, on an eight-game […]

Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder erased an 18-point deficit to win by 32 points in a 144-112 blowout against the Utah Jazz. In a game where the Thunder bench produced 71 points, which is the second most in franchise history, Daigneault highlighted four players who led the second unit. Without Jaylin Williams, Isaiah […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the second consecutive game, head coach Mark Daigneault watched Lu Dort connect on four threes to help the Oklahoma City Thunder seal a victory. Dort broke out of a shooting slump in Monday’s 126-109 blowout win against the New Orleans Pelicans before making three of his four triples in the fourth […]

In response to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s historic 49-point first quarter in Monday’s 126-109 blowout win against the New Orleans Pelicans, head coach Mark Daigneault highlighted veteran Lu Dort’s elite shooting. Dort connected on four threes in the opening frame and finished with 17 points as the Thunder’s best regular-season start continues. Oklahoma City’s 49 points are […]

LOS ANGELES, CA — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander marched into Intuit Dome wearing a fit he’ll likely never repeat again, a chance to tie Oscar Robertson for third all-time in consecutive 20-point games in NBA history. The last time that the Oklahoma City Thunder guard played against the team that drafted and traded him, it was one […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault commended his team’s approach amid the first 13 games of the regular season and a 12-1 start. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30-point performance led the Thunder in a 121-92 blowout win on Wednesday at the Paycom Center. After the win, Daigneault addressed the gains he’s seen in […]

The NBA record for wins in a regular season was set by the Golden State Warriors. In 2015-16, the team defeated their opponents 73 times in the regular season. Of course, they’d go on to lose an iconic NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, so some say it was all for nothing. Winning that many […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid a historic night for Chet Holmgren in a 126-101 win against the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault talked about his team’s job defending Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuminga. The All-Star guard finished with 11 points on 4-of-13 attempts, including 1-for-5 from deep, as Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed Isaiah Hartenstein’s extraordinary start to the season, following a 33-point, 19-rebound career-high against the Sacramento Kings, with an impressive performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and one block in a 114-100 win, where the Thunder erased a 19-point deficit. […]

The NBA’s last unbeaten team fell during the third week of the 2025-26 NBA season, as the Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a miraculous two-point win over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nobody expected the Thunder to actually go 82-0 this season, but this was a notable game, considering OKC has remained at […]