Sam Presti: From Boy Wonder to Middle-Aged Executive
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager
WEB Samuel Presti (born November 1, 1977) is an American basketball executive who is currently the executive vice president and general manager for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Presti has been with the Thunder organization since 2007, and has overseen the team's rise to prominence, including six Northwest Division titles and an appearance in the NBA Finals in 2012.
Early Career
Presti's interest in basketball began at a young age. In 1994, at the age of 16, he wrote a letter to the Boston Globe suggesting how the Boston Celtics should retool their organization. After graduating from college, Presti worked as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs and the Seattle SuperSonics before being hired by the Thunder in 2007.
Oklahoma City Thunder
In his 17 seasons with the Thunder, Presti has made a number of key moves that have shaped the team's success. He selected Immanuel Quickley with the 25th overall pick and Cassius Winston with the 53rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He also acquired Paul George and Russell Westbrook in trades, and drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Under Presti's leadership, the Thunder have become one of the most successful teams in the NBA. They have won six Northwest Division titles and have appeared in the NBA Finals once. Presti is widely regarded as one of the best executives in the NBA, and has been named NBA Executive of the Year twice.
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