Mark Daigneault and Sam Presti shared a hug after the Thunder crushed the Timberwolves in Game 5 to advance to the NBA Finals.

The manner in which the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their spot in the NBA Finals seemed fitting. It was a blowout. Those have been the story of the Thunder season.

“These guys are uncommon,” said Daigneault, who was an assistant at Florida when the Thunder lost to Miami in the 2012 finals, was coaching Oklahoma City’s G League team in 2016 and has been at the Thunder helm since 2020. “They do everything right. They’re professional. They’re high character.”

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault shares his thoughts after winning series against the Minnesota Timberwolves

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault reaches NBA Finals at just 40 years old. Mark Daigneault, only 40 years old, will be coaching in his first NBA Finals. A precocious coach who has led the Thunder to the fight for the ring after 13 seasons and after a restructuring that has not been easy.

"These experiences are so rich for us," coach Mark Daigneault says as the Thunder keep growing in the postseason.

Nine years after an iconic photo was taken, Mark Daigneault, Alex Caruso, and the Thunder are going to the NBA Finals.

Mark Daigneault discusses his team's play late in Game 4 as the Thunder take a 3-1 series lead over the Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.