The Oklahoma City Thunder open their preseason Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans in Tulsa, and the first look at this group comes with most of the familiar names parked on the sideline.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber are all out for the game. That leaves Mark Daigneault to sort through a different kind of rotation in the first half of the Thunder’s five-game preseason schedule.
The club also added another name to the mix earlier in the day, signing Anthony Pritchard to an exhibit 10 deal. The Tulsa native, who helped run the Oklahoma City Blue offense a year ago, gets a homecoming chance tonight. Daigneault said before the game that he expects Pritchard, along with every active player, to get some run.
This is the first leg of Oklahoma City’s opening back-to-back, with a 90-minute bus ride north to the BOK Center followed by a return home for Wednesday’s preseason matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks in the Paycom Center.
There’s still plenty to watch, even with so many regulars sitting. Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh are set to get their first real look in Thunder uniforms, and Oweh’s night comes after his Summer League stint in Salt Lake City was cut short by an ankle injury. In the backcourt, Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell should be an interesting pairing, especially with Mitchell’s injury-riddled season a year ago keeping those two from sharing the floor much.
For Oklahoma City, this is the start of a preseason that carries bigger expectations than usual. The Thunder are viewed as one of the top contenders in the NBA this season, and Tuesday begins the chase for the franchise’s second championship. After this back-to-back, the team gets the rest of the week off before preseason play resumes Monday night in Atlanta.
In Other News...
Chris Finch Sees One Early Sign Wolves Fans Will Love In LaMelo Ball
Chris Finch saw enough in the early going from LaMelo Ball to think Timberwolves fans can at least feel encouraged by what his new role might bring, and that is the kind of preseason detail coaches tend to linger on when they believe a player is settling into the right spots. For Oklahoma City, the broader league picture still matters because it shapes the matchups and opponents the Thunder will be chasing all season, while the preseason also offers its first real look at how rookies are adjusting to NBA speed and responsibility.
There was more around the West as well, with Denver weighing Julian Strawthers case for a rotation spot and other teams sorting out their own young talent, which only adds to the sense that the margin for climbing the standings will be thin. In Portland, Tom Dundons letter to season-ticket holders underscored both ambition and uncertainty, a reminder that even as franchises talk championship standards and arena upgrades, the future can still feel unsettled in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Got An Early Glimpse Of A New Role For Jared McCain
The Thunders preseason opener against the New Orleans Pelicans offered an early look at how Jared McCain might fit into a bigger offensive lane this fall. He played only the first half, but still finished with 12 points and five assists, spending most of his time looking to score from outside. It was a small sample, sure, but it was also the kind of start that hints at how Oklahoma City may want to use him as the calendar turns toward the regular season.
McCains shot profile already looked different in this first preseason game, with far more of his attempts coming from three-point range than in previous seasons. That matters for a Thunder team that suddenly has a clearer opening for perimeter firepower after Isaiah Joes departure, and McCain is now one of the names most worth tracking in that race. The real question is not whether the opportunity is there, but how far the Thunder are willing to lean into it. [Read more 🡒]
Aday Mara Is Forcing His Way Into OKC's Frontcourt Picture
Aday Mara has already started to look like more than just a developmental big in Oklahoma Citys frontcourt mix. Head coach Mark Daigneault said the rookie has made clear progress from summer league to training camp, and the Thunder have noticed the work showing up in ways that matter for a young center trying to earn trust early. At 7-foot-3, Mara brings the kind of size that naturally gets attention, but what has helped him stand out is the way he has carried himself into camp after the offseason.
For Oklahoma City, the appeal goes beyond height and draft pedigree. Daigneault pointed to Maras conditioning, defensive presence, mobility, rolling ability and hands as the traits that have made his camp impact harder to ignore, especially for a team that values versatility from its bigs. The real test comes soon enough, with the Thunder set to open preseason play against the New Orleans Pelicans in Tulsa, where Mara will get another chance to show how quickly he can fit into the picture. [Read more 🡒]