Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti supported center Chet Holmgren following their disappointing playoff exit and hit back against the nagging criticism star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets for his foul-drawing.
Presti called Holmgren "one of our guys" during a postseason news conference that ran past 100 minutes Monday, reiterating a continued belief in him as a franchise pillar as another transaction cycle in the NBA looms.
"He drives winning on so many different levels for us," Presti said. "He's a first-time All-Star, second in Defensive Player of the Year, third-team All-NBA. We were sweeping our way to the Western Conference finals primarily because of his efforts in the [Lakers] series."
But Holmgren struggled mightily in the seven-game series loss to the Spurs, watching his scoring average dip from 17.1 points per game in the regular season to 10.7 against San Antonio.
Holmgren took only three total 3-pointers in the last four games of the series and put up a nearly silent four-point, four-rebound night in Oklahoma City's Game 7 loss, admitting afterward he could've attempted more shots after taking only two.
"This is a guy that is intrinsically motivated," Presti said. "He doesn't need people questioning him or things on the internet to drive his improvement.... He doesn't need somebody to nudge him, he doesn't need somebody to question him. It's just kind of how he's wired. So I'm not really that concerned about him."