Mark Daigneault Articles - Page 5

While preparing for the Western Conference semifinals, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault reflected on All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s leading role. Daigneault revealed his approach for the second round before speaking on Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth over the years, as the MVP candidate is heading into his second semifinal appearance. Daigneault spoke on Gilgeous-Alexander’s candor and demeanor […]

As the NBA world reacts to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich’s retirement, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault shares his view on the revered coach. He has plenty to say about Popovich’s influence on the association as Mark Daigneault and the Thunder prepare for round 2. Oklahoma City will find out which […]

As the Oklahoma City Thunder await their Western Conference semifinal opponent, either the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Clippers, head coach Mark Daigneault discussed preparing his players for either team this week. After the Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 in the opening round, Daigneault says the Thunder have focused on improving as a […]

After watching Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren’s three-point shooting percentage spike in the opening-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, head coach Mark Daigneault is encouraging more of the same from his starting big man. Holmgren and the Thunder swept the Grizzlies 4-0, and as they await their second-round opponent, Daigneault revealed Chet’s 6.5 attempts […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder are getting cute on social media and getting compliments from the Memphis Grizzlies while waiting for a second-round NBA Playoffs opponent. Down time is not dead time, though, not for Mark Daigneault’s ‘imperfect’ Thunder. Everything around the organization is focused on building a championship culture and letting everyone feel they have […]

As the ‘imperfect’ Oklahoma City Thunder charge through the NBA Playoffs, a collective hunger and unselfish play have become defining traits of the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led squad. Second-year guard Cason Wallace is another new addition that embodies Oklahoma City’s underdog spirit and camaraderie, which propelled them to a rather straightforward series sweep of Ja Morant’s Memphis […]

The Memphis Grizzlies entered the NBA Playoffs with hopes of making noise as a young, hungry team. Instead, Jaren Jackson Jr. was among many handed a harsh reality check by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who completed a first-round sweep with a dominant performance that left EVP Zach Kleiman searching for answers. The series, […]

MEMPHIS — After beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 in Game 4 and completing a 4-0 sweep, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault applauded his first-round opponent. After Ja Morant suffered a hip injury in Game 3, he was ruled out for Game 4. It was a significant hurdle for Memphis, which Daigneault pointed out after Thursday’s […]

MEMPHIS — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has watched his starting center, Isaiah Hartenstein, adapt seamlessly to his team and its players. Before Game 4, Daigneault revealed the importance of being down 29 points on Thursday from a strengthening standpoint as a team. As for Hartenstein, from growing as a constant two-way threat […]

MEMPHIS — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault knows his team can learn numerous lessons from Thursday’s 114-108 Game 3 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Daigneault addressed a few during his media availability after Thunder practice on Friday. For his young team, Daigneault says the playoff experience of facing such a deficit on the road comes […]

MEMPHIS — Despite Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder coming off their most winning regular season in franchise history, head coach Mark Daigneault doesn’t forget that he’s leading the youngest team in the NBA. Maintaining his team’s confidence is vital in their series against the Memphis Grizzlies. After Holmgren entered halftime 0-for-4, Daigneaut instilled […]

MEMPHIS — Before Jalen Williams spoke on their 29-point comeback against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gushed over Alex Caruso’s performance. Caruso’s impact forced critical turnovers down the stretch. With the game tied at 108, Alex blocked Jaren Jackson Jr. at the 2:15 mark. Then, stole the […]

MEMPHIS — With a 2-0 lead, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault warned his team of the Memphis Grizzlies’ resilience before Game 3 on Thursday. After Daigneault highlighted Cason Wallace’s playoff impact thus far, he reminded his guys and the media of how the Grizzlies reached their first-round series in the first place. After losing to […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City veteran guard Alex Caruso says he’s one of the elite competitors in the NBA after Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault highlighted his performance in Game 2’s 118-99 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Caruso’s 13 points led the second unit. He also added four rebounds, three assists, and three steals on […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gave a warning to his team after the Game 2 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Western Conference No. 1 seed once again took over a game from the jump and was comfortably in front throughout this 118-99 victory. This 68-win team has looked like the cream of […]

Mark Daigneault made it clear he’s not chasing perfection after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s commanding 51-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their NBA playoff series. The 40-years-young coach, in his fifth season leading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s upstart, small-market Thunder, emphasized that basketball’s inherent flaws are part of what defines the game, even […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault appreciated Isaiah Hartenstein advocating for Lu Dort, protesting that the Thunder guard wasn’t named a finalist for DPOY. Hartenstein wasn’t the only one pulling for Lu. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander endorsed Dort for DPOY, and so did his fellow All-Star teammate Jalen Williams. Daigneault addressed the support for Dort when […]

The Memphis Grizzlies were embarrassed by the Oklahoma City Thunder 131-80 in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs first-round face-off. After a lopsided, historically bad loss on Easter Sunday, Ja Morant is making guarantees for the regrouping Grizzlies. Scotty Pippen Jr. is being more practical, emphasizing a forward-focused mindset. Adapting to how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched Aaron Wiggins’ 21 points off the bench lead his team in a historic 51-point win in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. After Daigneault predicted a tougher Grizzlies team in Game 2, he discussed Wiggins’ growth as one of the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — After an unprecedented 2024-25 regular season, head coach Mark Daigneault and his Oklahoma City Thunder made NBA history in their 131-80 series-opening blowout win against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder’s 51-point victory is the largest Game 1 win the association has ever seen. However, on Tuesday, Daigneault is prepared to see a […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault finished the 2024-25 regular season with two of his players, All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort, two guards, as candidates for DPOY. After explaining his reasoning, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins supports Dort in the DPOY race over Golden Sate Warriors veteran Draymond Green. Perkins observed Green call for […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault shared his perspective on Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic’s controversial fourth-quarter ejection in Tuesday’s 136-120 win at the Paycom Center. After a Thunder fan triggered Doncic into a reaction that led to his second technical foul, Daigneault defended the officials with skepticism on whether […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is just as surprised as most about the Denver Nuggets firing head coach Michael Malone weeks before the NBA postseason. Before Daigneault faced the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch from Sunday’s lopsided loss on Tuesday, he addressed the biggest news in the association surrounding […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Before facing the Los Angeles Lakers in a rare two-game mini-series at the tail end of the regular season, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault reminded reporters of the fundamental element of facing a potential playoff matchup. For Daigneault, it’s less of an opportunity for the Thunder to gain an advantage […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Before facing the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed the advantages of a two-game series against the potential playoff opponent. After Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams addressed the Lakers after Friday’s loss, Daigneault discussed the significance of hosting two games in two days against Los Angeles. […]

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and his team’s 11-game win streak in a 125-111 blowout win where the Rockets dominated throughout the night. After ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins crowned the Thunder the best team in franchise history, Jalen Green (34 points) and All-Star Alperen Sengun (31 points) […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Detroit Pistons 119-103, extending its winning streak to 11 straight as head coach Mark Daigneault watches his team cruise toward the finish line of a historic regular season. Despite All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tying Michael Jordan for 69 consecutive 20+ point performances in the third quarter, the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — In 2024-25, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe has a few signature shooting performances under his belt, connecting on eight threes on three separate occasions, including Monday’s 145-117 win against the Chicago Bulls. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched Joe drain eight threes twice in January. After making five in Saturday’s win […]

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey returns to the Paycom Center for the first time since the Oklahoma City Thunder traded him for Alex Caruso, which head coach Mark Daigneault revisited before Monday’s matchup. After his first three seasons, the Thunder traded Giddey to the Bulls during the offseason, granting Josh an increased role with Chicago […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spoke highly about how head coach Mark Daigneault has impacted him and the rest of his teammates. It’s what makes him an elite head coach. After Daigneault revealed Gilgeous-Alexander’s ascension into stardom, Shai explained how Mark gets the best from his players. For Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s a […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault remembers navigating a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander through his second NBA season. Years before Gilgeous-Alexander was a back-to-back candidate for MVP, Daigneault observed a young guard trying to find his way. After the Thunder’s 132-111 win against the Indiana Pacers, Mark revealed the most significant strides […]

Years before Oklahoma City Thunder center Jaylin Williams recorded his second triple-double, he had his first conversation with head coach Mark Daigneault. Williams revealed that he didn’t know Daigneault was the Thunder head coach during his predraft workout with the team. The NBA’s 2024 Coach of the Year was still unrecognizable in 2022, two years into […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched starting center Isaiah Hartenstein make franchise history in Thursday’s 125-104 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies. On the same special night, the Thunder’s 61st win set a new franchise record, and Hartenstein set the franchise record for most assists by a center in a single […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Head coach Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder recorded their 61st win on Thursday, setting a new franchise record for most wins in a regular season. Keyed by a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter, the Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104. After Daigneault gave his bench a ton of credit […]

After the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Sacramento Kings 121-105, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault credited his bench players for their consistency despite receiving inconsistent playing time. For some, staying ready doesn’t guarantee minutes. Still, Daigneault appreciates his team’s head-down, work-hard approach. Daigneault says, despite the inconsistent opportunities, his second unit remains reliant. “We’ve had […]

After Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke Kevin Durant’s record for most consecutive 20+ point games in Tuesday’s 121-105 win against the Sacramento Kings, head coach Mark Daigneault reacted to winning 60 games. The 2024-25 Thunder matched the franchise’s record for most wins in a regular season, which Daigneault says is a testament to his team’s […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault leaned heavily on Alex Caruso’s defensive versatility in Sunday’s 103-101 win against the Los Angeles Clippers. Before All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pointed out Caruso’s impact, Daigneault explained what made that impact so critical in the Thunder’s latest win. With All-Star Jalen Williams (hip) ruled out, Caruso was added to […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled with his shot, going 7-for-29 from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, but the Oklahoma City Thunder still managed to edge out the surging LA Clippers 103-101 on Sunday night. Despite the tough shooting night, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault had nothing but praise for his MVP-caliber guard. “We always […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault had no complaints after Friday’s 141-106 blowout win against the Charlotte Hornets. After the Lakers’ 118-89 loss led to the Thunder clinching the No. 1 seed on Thursday, Oklahoma City’s effort against the lowly Hornets remained high throughout their 35-point victory. For only the fourth […]