The Oklahoma City Thunder held their 2022 media day on Monday, Sept. 26.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and most of the players were expected to talk with the media.
Due to the event lasting several hours, this article will be updated throughout the day with the best quotes and paraphrases from each player when it’s their turn to speak with the media.
Update: With media day officially over, this article recaps the most notable quotes from Daigneault and all 18 players that talked. The only players who didn’t speak were Chet Holmgren and Ty Jerome.
Mark Daigneault
Mark Daigneault on Chip Engelland: "Sam worked with him and has known him for a long time… Sam and I sat down with him in Las Vegas… We have a lot of people from (the Spurs) that speak highly of him."
Said he's not going to be with the team full-time
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Mark Daigneault on experimenting this season: "We're not interested in average and being conventional leads to average… We've had a willingness from a strategic and team-building standpoint to chase excellence… We're aggressive in our pursuit of our goals."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Mark Daigneault said he's really excited about SGA and that he can be a pace setter for the rest of the young roster
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA on trade rumors: "Honestly I don't pay attention to the NBA media and what gets tweeted and what circulates around the web."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
SGA on his fit with Josh Giddey: "I love my fit with Josh… It's easy to play with guys like that."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Derrick Favors
Derrick Favors on his role post-Chet injury: "It was an unfortunate injury for Chet. It kinda put me back in the mix of things. Now they'll lean on me to protect the paint… Just be a good veteran on the team and help them to win as much as I can."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Derrick Favors said he's been working on his 3-point shot this summer
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Lu Dort
Lu Dort said he spent most of the offseason rehabbing his torn labrum but is ready to go for this season
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Lu Dort on his extension: “I appreciated this organization to trust me, I feel like I’ve grown so much being here. I’m just so happy being here for the next five years”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Kenrich Williams
Kenrich Williams on his extension: "I was definitely grateful and blessed to be valued by an organization like the Thunder… I got a chance to think about the extension and I was celebrating with my family."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Kenrich Williams on why he wanted to stay in OKC: "The whole organization from top to bottom… I get a good peace of mind. My family is happy here… There's not enough money to give you peace of mind."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Aleksej Pokusevski
Poku on his offseason: "I was working out pretty much. I was putting weight on."
On the training camp roster, it shows that Poku gained 20 lbs
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Mike Muscala
Mike Muscala said the fans, organization and city play a huge role in him wanting to stay in OKC
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Darius Bazley
Darius Bazley on his new jersey number: "Just felt like it was time for a change."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Darius Bazley said he won't drop any music this season
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Josh Giddey
Josh Giddey on Chip Engelland: "I was really excited when Coach Mark called me and told me we're bringing in Chip… We've spent two, three times a day in the gym."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Josh Giddey said he won't cut his hair
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Josh Giddey on Chet Holmgren: "It obviously sucks seeing anybody get hurt. Loved playing with him in the Summer League."
Said he's confident Chet will rehab well
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Theo Maledon
Theo Maledon said he knows Victor Wembanyama and believes in his hype: "I think he's really hungry."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Tre Mann
Tre Mann on being asked about being bigger: "First of all, I appreciate that."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Tre Mann on his tattoos: "My favorite part for me is seeing after. It's painful to go through it."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
JRE on converting Josh Giddey to a Chiefs fan: "It's really easy when the team is doing well… We'll allow him to come join us."
Said his favorite Chiefs player all-time is Tony Gonzalez
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
JRE said his surgically-repaired foot is 100%
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Aaron Wiggins
Aaron Wiggins said Kam Woods was extremely important to the team last season: "He'll do a great job at having that (OKC Blue HC) role… I'm happy for him. I enjoyed playing for him in Summer League."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Aaron Wiggins on Jalen Williams/Jaylin Williams: "I thought it was funny, man."
Said when he first met them, he had Jalen Williams as "Santa Clara" under his phone contacts
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Vit Krejci
Vit Krejci on the rookies: "It's awesome to play with these guys… Everybody is very versatile… It's been really fun."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Ousmane Dieng
Ousmane Dieng said he's good friends with Victor Wembanyama and played with his before on U16 teams
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Jalen Williams
Jalen Williams said he's trying to learn from SGA and looks forwards to seeing how he operates
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Jalen Williams on visiting the OKC National Memorial Museum: "It was very humbling. I think it was really cool that we got to learn about the history."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Lindy Waters III
Lindy Waters III: "The last couple of months playing in the NBA really showed me things I needed to work on."
Cites conditioning and strength
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Jaylin Williams
Jaylin Williams said it's an honor to be the final Thunder player to wear #6 as the league retired the number for Bill Russell
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
Eugene Omoruyi
Eugene Omoruyi said he's wearing #97 because he was born in that year
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2022
