Tag: 2023 Media Day

Davis Bertans recounts how he discovered he was being traded to Thunder

“Couldn’t really process it at the moment. It took a little while.”

As they usually do, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a busy 2023 NBA draft night.

The Thunder moved up from the No. 12 pick to No. 10 in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks. As part of the deal, the Thunder absorbed Davis Bertans’ possibly hefty $33 million contract over the next two seasons. He is due a $17 million salary this season and up to $16 million next season if he plays 75% of regular season games this year.

The Thunder used the No. 10 pick to select Cason Wallace, but in the process, they also acquired a legit bench-scoring piece.

While the trade didn’t become official until days later, the 30-year-old wing found out about it late at night. During media day, Bertans revealed the details of how he discovered the news he was being shipped from Dallas to OKC.

“I was back home, sound asleep. 4 a.m. for me at that point. My wife tapped me on the shoulder at 6 a.m. and told me I was traded. My question was, where? OKC? I was like, well, that’s where we’re moving. Couldn’t really process it at the moment. It took a little while. You know, waking up in the middle of the night knowing you’ve got to pack your stuff and get on the road. Luckily, I was happy it was only a three-hour drive so the move was kind of easy from Dallas.”

Since his arrival, Bertans said the positive reviews he heard around the league about the Thunder have been justified. The veteran mentioned OKC does a fantastic job of re-energizing the eight-year veteran.

“Honestly, I’ve heard only great things about the organization; that it’s one of the top class organizations in the NBA. I’ve been here two weeks, and during the summer they kept proving it right that this is a top-class organization. They tried to install the qualities in players that can make a great team, not just the players, the staff, everybody and these two weeks, I feel energized every time I walk in the building and excited to get to work.”

Even though he had a down season last year, Bertans could serve as a valuable outside shooting weapon for the Thunder. The 3-point shooting wing has been one of the better long-range outside shooters since arriving in the NBA in 2016.

If Bertans can shoot around his career average of 39.8% from 3 on 4.7 attempts, the Thunder will have one of the best 3-point shooting bench options in the entire league.

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PHOTOS: Best images from OKC Thunder’s 2023-24 media day

Let’s look at some of the best photos from the Thunder’s 2023-24 Media Day:

The Oklahoma City Thunder held their 2023 media day on Monday, Oct. 2.

Throughout the all-day event, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and players spoke with the media in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season.

The headliner of this year’s event was Chet Holmgren and his highly anticipated return/debut for the Thunder after missing the entire 2022-23 season.

The Thunder play their preseason opener on Monday, Oct. 9, against the San Antonio Spurs. OKC’s regular-season opener will be against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 25.

Monday also marked the official day of photoshoots for the head coach and roster. Let’s look at some of the best photos surrounding the Thunder on their media day.

Chet Holmgren talks about working out with Kevin Durant in offseason

“A lot of questions (are) being asked from me about the game because he’s seen it all and done it all.”

Throughout the offseason, Chet Holmgren took every chance he had to play basketball and to work out.

Instead of taking the summer off, the seven-footer used it to knock off any rust he developed while recovering from his season-ending Lisfranc injury last year.

Whether it was practicing for the U.S. Select team or playing in summer league, Holmgren was busy throughout the offseason. His offseason also included working out with former Thunder Kevin Durant.

During media day, Holmgren was asked about working out with Durant. Both seven-footers have ties with the Thunder: Durant spent the first nine seasons of his career in OKC while Holmgren is beginning his there.

In response, Holmgren spoke with great admiration about Durant, referencing how both know several individuals within the Thunder organization.

“A lot of our talks had to do with the game itself of basketball and how do we do this, how do we do that,” Holmgren said. “A lot of questions (are) being asked from me about the game because he’s seen it all and done it all and knows what it takes.

“Just trying to learn the game from him, and I had some Thunder staff with me out there this summer and he knows a lot of people in the building. He’s great. He’s always spreading the love and it’s all love coming from him. Somebody might tell me to tell him what’s up whenever I see him, and he’ll say the same back. It’s all love. Kevin is a great dude, and it was great being able to work with him and get better.”

If Holmgren is to model his game after someone, Durant is a great choice. While the former doesn’t have the offensive talent of the latter, being able to pick his brain as a seven-foot ball-handler can only result in positives.

If Holmgren’s game starts to resemble Durant’s a bit, then that significantly changes the franchise’s trajectory in a positive way.

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2023-24 OKC Thunder Media Day: Lu Dort aims to improve shooting efficiency

“We have a lot of guys on our team that can make plays, so I’ve just got to really be in the right spots.”

Heading into the 2023-24 season, the most polarizing player on the Oklahoma City Thunder roster appears to be Lu Dort once again.

Four seasons into his career, Dort has established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. On the other end of the floor, the inconsistencies are enough for portions of the fan base to voice displeasure.

Dort’s struggles finishing around the rim paired with his inconsistent high-volume 3-point shooting have caused fans to wonder how much longer the Thunder can stomach the bad offensive possessions and shots.

On shots within 3 feet of the basket, Dort shot a career-low 52.1% last season. He shot 59.2% from that distance in his first three seasons.

It appears Dort is aware of the criticisms, too. He spoke about what he worked on in the offseason. During his media day availability, he mentioned he wants to be a better finisher around the rim and wants to provide spacing for OKC.

“My main thing was just to be more efficient,” Dort said. “I got in a little slump efficiency-wise and all that around the rim, but really reading what the defense gives me, honestly, and not be in a rush, taking my time.

“We have a lot of guys on our team that can make plays, so I’ve just got to really be in the right spots and space out and be ready to make the right play.”

While the actual results ultimately matter, Dort being self-aware enough to realize his offensive inefficiencies is an important first step in evolving as a player as his role will likely change with the Thunder.

If Dort can be a league-average shooter around the rim, then that’ll help him out tremendously with his long-term outlook as an NBA starter. If not, then maybe it’ll be time for a serious conversation surrounding his ceiling as an NBA player.

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2023-24 OKC Thunder Media Day: What teammates had to say about Chet Holmgren

Here’s what Chet Holmgren’s teammates had to say about his return and debut.

The Oklahoma City Thunder held their 2023-24 media day on Monday, Oct. 2. The event kicks off training camp and the preseason.

The biggest storyline during the all-day event involved the return and debut of 2022 No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren. After suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury last year, the seven-footer is set to make his NBA debut this season.

Throughout the day, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and players spoke about Holmgren’s impending return and the difference he can make as an elite rim protector.

Let’s recap what they had to say about Holmgren.