Sam Presti
Encyclopedia
Sam Prestigiacomo is an American basketball
executive. Since June 7, 2007, he has been the General Manager
of the Oklahoma City Thunder
, the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics
. In the summer of 2010, the team extended his contract.
Presti previously served in several progressively more significant positions for the San Antonio Spurs
after beginning as an intern. He met their General Manager R.C. Buford at a basketball camp in Aspen Colorado. He is given much of the credit for encouraging the Spurs to draft point guard Tony Parker
in 2001.
In his first move as GM of the Sonics, he traded multiple time All-Star Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics, where he helped win the NBA title in 2008, in a large trade that included the draft rights to Jeff Green. He shortly thereafter traded All-Star Rashard Lewis to Orlando for a 2nd round draft pick and a $9 million dollar trade exception, which Presti later used to land Kurt Thomas and 2 first-round draft picks from Phoenix. To lead the team he selected P.J. Carelismo as Head Coach, who he knew as an assistant coach at San Antonio. In Presti's first season in charge the team was 20-62, the worst in the history on the franchise. Toward the end of this season the league authorized a move and after a court battle & settlement the team was allowed to move to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Subsequently they were renamed the Thunder.
During his second season, the Thunder began the season 1-12 and Presti fired P. J. Carlesimo, and hired assistant coach Scott Brooks
as the interim coach. Under Brooks, the Thunder went 22-47. Presti acquired Thabo Sefolosha
from the Chicago Bulls
for a late first round pick and Johan Petro. Presti also initiated a trade for Tyson Chandler
from the New Orleans Hornets for two backups (Chris Wilcox
and Joe Smith), but the trade was later rescinded because Chandler failed his required physical.
Coach Brooks was retained and in Presti's third season the plan began to provide much improved results. A strong defense arose with the help of Assistant Coach Ron Adams. Durant became the league's leading scorer and other higher draft picks obtained in the previous weak seasons and a few veterans successfully filled roles and improved the team record to 50-32. The Thunder played the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, forcing them to 6 games before losing 4-2.
Presti graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, politics and law from Emerson College
in Boston where he played Division III basketball. Showing his commitment to defense on the court just as he does as a General Manager, Presti once took six charging fouls in one game. He's an accomplished drummer whose CDs benefited a children's hospital.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
executive. Since June 7, 2007, he has been the General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
, the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. In the summer of 2010, the team extended his contract.
Presti previously served in several progressively more significant positions for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
after beginning as an intern. He met their General Manager R.C. Buford at a basketball camp in Aspen Colorado. He is given much of the credit for encouraging the Spurs to draft point guard Tony Parker
Tony Parker
William Anthony "Tony" Parker is a French professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA....
in 2001.
In his first move as GM of the Sonics, he traded multiple time All-Star Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics, where he helped win the NBA title in 2008, in a large trade that included the draft rights to Jeff Green. He shortly thereafter traded All-Star Rashard Lewis to Orlando for a 2nd round draft pick and a $9 million dollar trade exception, which Presti later used to land Kurt Thomas and 2 first-round draft picks from Phoenix. To lead the team he selected P.J. Carelismo as Head Coach, who he knew as an assistant coach at San Antonio. In Presti's first season in charge the team was 20-62, the worst in the history on the franchise. Toward the end of this season the league authorized a move and after a court battle & settlement the team was allowed to move to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Subsequently they were renamed the Thunder.
During his second season, the Thunder began the season 1-12 and Presti fired P. J. Carlesimo, and hired assistant coach Scott Brooks
Scott Brooks
Scott William Brooks is a retired American professional basketball player from Lathrop, California and is the current head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA...
as the interim coach. Under Brooks, the Thunder went 22-47. Presti acquired Thabo Sefolosha
Thabo Sefolosha
Thabo Patrick Sefolosha is a Swiss professional basketball shooting guard who plays for Fenerbahçe Ülker in Turkey. He is also under contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA, but is playing overseas because of the 2011 NBA lockout....
from the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
for a late first round pick and Johan Petro. Presti also initiated a trade for Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler
Tyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball center who most recently played for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. He was also a member of the United States men's national basketball team.-High school:...
from the New Orleans Hornets for two backups (Chris Wilcox
Chris Wilcox
Chris Ray Wilcox is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons. He previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, and collegiately at the University of Maryland, where he helped the Terrapins win...
and Joe Smith), but the trade was later rescinded because Chandler failed his required physical.
Coach Brooks was retained and in Presti's third season the plan began to provide much improved results. A strong defense arose with the help of Assistant Coach Ron Adams. Durant became the league's leading scorer and other higher draft picks obtained in the previous weak seasons and a few veterans successfully filled roles and improved the team record to 50-32. The Thunder played the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, forcing them to 6 games before losing 4-2.
Presti graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, politics and law from Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
in Boston where he played Division III basketball. Showing his commitment to defense on the court just as he does as a General Manager, Presti once took six charging fouls in one game. He's an accomplished drummer whose CDs benefited a children's hospital.