The Oklahoma City Thunder held their second day of training camp on Wednesday as they prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs in their preseason opener on Monday, Oct. 9.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort spoke with the media following the session. Aleksej Pokusevski, who is recovering from an ankle sprain, was also spotted at the facility.
Buy Thunder TicketsGilgeous-Alexander spoke about his pairing with Chet Holmgren while Dort talked about his return to Montreal for OKC’s preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 12.
Let’s recap what Daigneault, Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort had to say following the second day of training camp.
Poku is at the practice facility pic.twitter.com/N5fIOcJ45z
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
Mark Daigneault talking about the physicality of camp so far pic.twitter.com/TfFfrU1qFP
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 4, 2023
Mark Daigneault calls Vasilije Micic a high IQ player and said the style is a bit different than he is used to so it could take him a minute to calibrate
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 4, 2023
Mark Daigneault said last year was about earning respect from the NBA, and he thinks he has done that, “we are not going to sneak up on anybody”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 4, 2023
Mark Daigneault on getting more attention from the league now compared to previous years:
“The attentions our guys deserve. They earned that. They benefit from that… Our opponents last year for our team is about earning respect from the NBA… I think we’ve now done that.” pic.twitter.com/oOOYKQT0io
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
Mark Daigneault on building a home court advantage with the Thunder crowd:
“Of course we want it… We have to earn it. We have to be a team that people want to get behind.” pic.twitter.com/iGSrR74Dxp
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
Lu Dort on Cason Wallace: “He’s a tough guy. He can guard. He can move his feet. That’s what we need him to do for our team. He makes a lot of good decisions with the ball. I’m really happy to share the court with him.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
Lu Dort on entering his 5th season: “I’m getting more vocal. I remember my first couple years I was really quiet. I’m getting there and I’m happy to be in this position.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
When asked about players he talked to for advice during his rookie season, Lu Dort listed off Dennis Schroder, Andre Roberson, Chris Paul, Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo:
“This list goes on. We had a lot of defenders that year. Those guys really paved the way for me.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
Lu Dort talks about taking a few charges yesterday pic.twitter.com/15NicIBdWE
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 4, 2023
“Just do what Shai does.”
I asked Lu Dort with all his experience as an elite defender are there any offensive moves he takes from those stars and teaches his teammates. pic.twitter.com/c7OiLj7FvG
— Michael Martin (@MichaelOnSports) October 4, 2023
SGA on how cool it is to see Lu Dort play at home during their preseason game against the Pistons:
“I know the feeling. I get to every year. It’s a special feeling to be able to play in front of your family and friends… He’ll have a lot of fun that night. I’m happy for him.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
SGA on the in-season tournament:
“It’ll be fun to add a little bit excitement. A different feel to the games.” pic.twitter.com/4WvoonlHPG
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
SGA on his pairing with Chet Holmgren:
“It’s gonna be very fun. We both have weapons that we can add and make each other’s games easier. The more we get better at it, the faster we get better at it, the better the team will be.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 4, 2023
