Tag: David Aldridge

The Athletic ranks OKC Thunder offseason as 9th best in the league

The Thunder come in at No. 9 in the league rankings for best offseasons.

The Athletic’s David Aldridge ranked all 30 NBA teams in terms of the offseason they had. With NBA training camps starting this month, all of the major moves are done as the league prepares to kick off the 2022-23 regular season in October.

Aldridge ranked the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offseason ninth. The only outside additions were from the 2022 NBA draft, and the team extended Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams.

“A brutal, brutal blow to the Thunder for this coming season with the loss of Holmgren, who injured himself in Jamal Crawford’s Pro-Am League in Seattle in August. But, OKC’s years of asset-flipping look like they’ve, potentially, produced a true core group that can grow together – at least, starting in ’23-’24. Dort and Kenrich Williams have joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on long-term extensions; Josh Giddey and Holmgren will certainly join them in a couple of years. And the Thunder still controls an always-replenishing stockpile of future firsts (not even counting pick swaps, OKC still has four first-round picks, including its own, in 2024; three firsts in ’25 and three firsts in ’26). With Holmgren lost, though, the more important of all those picks may be next summer. If OKC tanks again next season, it might wind up with Victor Wembanyama as the ultimate consolation prize.”

This is a pretty solid ranking for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren being out for the entire season is devastating news, but it shouldn’t impact the team long term. Outside of that massive blow, the Thunder have had a solid summer with adding three other rookies, including two more lottery picks in Ousmane Dieng and Jalen Williams.

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David Aldridge casually corrected Jeff Van Gundy after he misquoted Pat Riley’s playoff mantra

Note to self: Never, ever mess with Aldridge’s basketball knowledge.

Jeff Van Gundy has built a reputation on being one of the NBA’s more outspoken color analysts. As part of ESPN’s lead broadcast team, the former Knicks and Rockets coach usually brings an acerbic edge to the games he helps call.

While it may not always be correct per se, Van Gundy’s commentary is seldom out of bounds. Better said: He’s respectful and not afraid to speak his mind.

During the Celtics’ 108-91 win over the Bucks on Sunday afternoon, Van Gundy did actually cross one line. While comparing Boston’s tremendous depth and Milwaukee’s shorthanded status, Van Gundy absolutely butchered a famous quote from Hall of Fame head coach Pat Riley:

Uh, I could be wrong, but I don’t think that’s what Riley said about playoff rotations, Jeff!

Van Gundy’s blunder — in the middle of a huge game, no less — was so disastrous that legendary reporter David Aldridge just had to correct him. In public. And with some sass:

In some capacity, Aldridge has covered all facets of professional basketball (NBA, WNBA, etc.) for nearly three decades. In essence, he’s definitely had more than his fair share of conversations and interactions with Riley.

So, yeah, I think I’m going to trust Aldridge as a source on what Riley said as opposed to Van Gundy. No offense, coach. And a word of advice: Before saying it out loud to millions of people, it might be better to come prepared with the full quote next time.

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