Tag: Oklahoma City Thunder

Mark Daigneault named a finalist for 2023-24 Coach of the Year award

Mark Daigneault nominated for 2023-24 Coach of the Year award.

The NBA announced its award finalists for the 2023-24 season on Sunday. The Oklahoma City Thunder had several representatives among the groups.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was named a finalist for the Coach of the Year award. This shouldn’t be surprising: The 39-year-old won the NBCA’s version of the award voted among his peers.

In his fourth season as the head coach, Daigneault led OKC as it became the youngest top seed in league history. The Thunder finished 57-25, a 17-win jump from last season’s 40-42 record.

Other finalists are Chris Finch and Jamahl Mosley. The 2023-24 Coach of the Year award will be announced during the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren were named finalists for MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named a finalist for 2023-24 MVP award

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nominated for 2023-24 MVP award.

The NBA announced its award finalists for the 2023-24 season on Sunday. The Oklahoma City Thunder had several representatives among the groups.

The biggest one is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP finalist nod. This shouldn’t be a shocker. The 25-year-old has been the face of the youngest first seed in league history.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the best players in the league this season, consistently scoring 30-plus points on high efficiency.

After finishing fifth in MVP voting last season, Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved into one of the best players in the league. He averaged 30.1 points on 53.5% shooting, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 75 games this season.

Other finalists are Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. The 2023-24 MVP winner will be announced during the NBA playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander was also named a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year along with Stephen Curry and DeMar DeRozan.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Chet Holmgren were named finalists for Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year, respectively.

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Full injury report for Sunday’s Pelicans vs. Thunder matchup in Game 1

Full injury report for Sunday’s Pelicans vs. Thunder matchup in Game 1.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will begin the 2024 NBA playoffs on Sunday with Game 1 of the first round against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The first-seeded Thunder return to action after a week off. Meanwhile, the Pelicans had to survive the play-in tournament to earn the eighth seed. New Orleans’ win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday secured its playoff berth.

The Thunder have a clean bill of health for Game 1. Nobody was on their injury report. Meanwhile, the Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson (hamstring strain), who will miss most — if not all — of the first-round series.

This will have massive ramifications on how the series plays out. The Pelicans will be without their best player, who has enjoyed a career season after struggling to stay healthy the last two years.

In the season series, OKC won two of the three matchups against New Orleans. OKC’s loss was the result of a blown 22-point lead in the season’s opening weeks.

Tipoff from Oklahoma City is set for 8:30 p.m. CT.

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Chet Holmgren anxious for playoff debut, excited to see home crowd

Chet Holmgren anxious for playoff debut, excited to see home crowd.

Considering how young the Oklahoma City Thunder are, Game 1 against the New Orleans Pelicans will be the first home playoff game for most of the roster.

In the Thunder’s final practice before their playoff debut, Chet Holmgren described himself as anxious to get to a tip following a week of rest as the first seed.

When asked about the playoff shirts fans will sport during Game 1, Holmgren was excited about the atmosphere. The rookie 7-foot center understands the homecourt advantage the OKC crowd provides in the postseason.

“They didn’t bring it back because of me. I think they brought it back because of the playoffs,” Holmgren said about the playoff shirts. “If they didn’t, I’d probably have a word.”

What are Holmgren’s expectations for the Game 1 environment?

“A sea of white (shirts), man,” Holmgren said. “Lots of people standing up … Deafening sound.”

If the Thunder have a deep playoff run, the 21-year-old will need to play a massive part in it. Holmgren rounds out one of the best trios in the league with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

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Mark Daigneault discusses playoff series against Pelicans, Zion Williamson’s absence

Mark Daigneault discusses playoff series against Pelicans, Zion Williamson’s absence.

After nearly a week of waiting, the Oklahoma City Thunder finally learned their first-round opponent will be the New Orleans Pelicans following the play-in tournament.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault talked about the matchup following Saturday’s practice. It was the final practice before the start of the playoffs for the first-seeded Thunder.

“They’ve strung together a really good year again. A team we have our respect for,” Daigneault said on the Pelicans. “I’m expecting a huge challenge for this series,”

The short-handed Pelicans will likely play the first round without Zion Williamson. The two-time All-Star suffered a hamstring strain in their play-in tournament loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s a massive blow that can alter the series. After battling health issues the last two years, Williamson has enjoyed a career season. He’ll miss at least two weeks.

Against the Lakers, Williamson scored a season-high 40 points before his leg injury. Without him, the Pelicans will rely on Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum to make up for their best player’s absence.

“It changes them significantly. He’s just such a unique player,” Daigneault said about Wiliamson’s absence.” There’s a really good version of them without him and there’s a really good version with him.

“I think they become a little bit more space-oriented, pick-and-roll oriented on offense. Defensively, they’re more light-sized and they do a lot more switching.”

The Thunder will enter the series fully healthy and rested. Meanwhile, the short-handed Pelicans are fresh off two highly intense postseason matchups.

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Thunder vs. Pelicans: Full 2024 first round playoff series schedule announced

Thunder vs. Pelicans: Full 2024 first-round playoff series schedule announced.

The NBA released its playoff schedule on Wednesday. The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the New Orleans Pelicans in a first-round series of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

The first-seeded Thunder seek their first playoff series win since 2016.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans captured the eighth seed in their play-in tournament win over the Sacramento Kings. Zion Williamson will likely be out most of the series with a hamstring strain.

The full first-round series is below:

  • Game 1: Sunday, April 21, 8:30 p.m. CT on TNT
  • Game 2: Wednesday, April 24, 8:30 p.m. CT on TNT
  • Game 3: Saturday, April 27, 2:30 p.m. CT on TNT
  • Game 4: Monday, April 29
  • Game 5: Wednesday, May 1
  • Game 6: Friday, May 3
  • Game 7: Sunday, May 5

The Thunder will host Game 1 and 2 and go on the road for Game 3 and Game 4. They return home for a possible Game 5 and Game 7 and go on the road for a possible Game 6. Tipoff times and broadcast information for the series’ final four games will be announced.

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OKC Thunder to face New Orleans Pelicans in first round of 2024 NBA playoffs

OKC Thunder to face New Orleans Pelicans in first round of 2024 NBA playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the New Orleans Pelicans in their first-round series. This comes after the Pelicans’ 105-98 win over the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament to earn the eighth seed on Friday.

Brandon Ingram had 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting, six rebounds and six assists. Trey Murphy III totaled 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and eight rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The first-seeded Thunder look to collect their first playoff series win since 2016. This is the first of presumably several playoff trips for the trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

The Pelicans will likely be without Zion Williamson for most of the first round as he recovers from a hamstring strain. Ingram has looked hobbled at times since his return from a bruised knee.

In their season series, the Thunder won two of the three matchups. OKC’s loss included a blown 22-point lead. Game 1 will be on Sunday. The full series schedule can be read here.

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Jamahl Mosley praises Mark Daigneault for NBCA Coach of the Year award

Jamahl Mosley praises Mark Daigneault for NBCA Coach of the Year award.

After winning the NBCA’s Coach of the Year, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was prideful of the award. It was a sign of respect from his peers: The 30 NBA head coaches voted on the award.

Daigneault also will likely receive the wider known Coach of the Year award bestowed by the NBA. The 39-year-old helped the young Thunder become one of the best teams in the league. OKC finished as the youngest first seed in league history this season.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley experienced similar success with his young squad. The Magic finished 47-35 and with the fifth seed.

Mosley, who signed an extension this season, will likely finish as a runner-up for the award. He offered Daigneault praise on the NBCA award.

“I think he’s done a phenomenal, phenomenal job down there with those guys,” Mosley said. “The way in which they play, the style that they play won. How they execute, how they’re detailed, how they’re prepared for every single game. He’s done such a fantastic job for them.”

Both the Thunder and Magic hope to make noise in the playoffs. They’ve been two of the best young squads in the league and have broken out this season.

Editor’s note: RookieWire’s Cody Taylor contributed to this article.

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Chet Holmgren voices who he thinks should win Rookie of the Year

Chet Holmgren voices who he thinks should win Rookie of the Year.

After a successful season in which the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the Western Conference’s top seed, it’s only reasonable to expect several representatives during this year’s award season.

One is Chet Holmgren, who’ll likely finish top two in Rookie of the Year voting with Victor Wembanyama. It was an historic season for the rookie duo; they led the league in blocks.

Holmgren played an important role in the Thunder’s campaign as part of their young trio. Meanwhile, Wembanyama had a phenomenal rookie campaign and is on his way to being one of the best players in the league.

In his interview on the Boardroom, Holmgren talked about the Rookie of the Year race, saying both he and Wembanyama deserve it and that it’ll be up to the voters to decide the winner.

“All credit to Wembanyama and what he’s doing,” Holmgren said. “I think first of all, we’re both having great years, but at the end of the day I think the voting is in the eye of the beholder.

“Whenever that does happen, win, lose, draw, the focus at the end of the day is our season hopefully continuing on, and what I have to do to help our team continue where they’re trying to go.”

This is a very diplomatic answer by Holmgren, who is as savvy with the media as he is protecting the rim. Odds are, Wembanyama will win the award, but that shouldn’t take away from Holmgren’s special first season back after missing all of last year recovering from a Lisfranc injury.

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OKC Blue’s Jahmi’us Ramsey named to All-NBA G League third team

OKC Blue’s Jahmi’us Ramsey named to All-NBA G League third team.

The G League announced its three All-NBA G League teams on Thursday. OKC Blue’s Jahmi’us Ramsey was named to the third team.

The 22-year-old played a pivotal role in the Blue winning their first G League championship this season. He served as a slashing scorer off the bench.

During the team’s playoff run, Ramsey averaged 16 points and shot 44% from 3 in five games.

In 30 games with the Blue, Ramsey averaged 20.6 points on 53.1% shooting, 7.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

He also signed a pair of 10-day deals with the Toronto Raptors this season. In seven games with Toronto, he averaged 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds.

The third team consists of the following five players:Image

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