Mitch McGary remembers it well, the whirlwind that happens after the NBA Draft with Summer League right around the corner.
Just a week after being selected by the Thunder last June, McGary was on his way with coaches, staff and teammates to Orlando to get to work in his first official capacity with the team. It was an important part of the process of immediately getting integrated into the Thunder organization and allowing for the coaching staff to get a baseline reading on where McGary was as a player.
On Friday, McGary will again join a group of teammates to take part in the NBA's Summer League in Orlando, where the Thunder earned the championship in 2013. Last year’s week of pure basketball and learning was a beneficial experience for McGary and other young players within the Thunder organization, and with new Head Coach Billy Donovan and his staff now in place at the INTEGRIS Thunder Development Center, this year’s trip to central Florida will be valuable as well.All five of the Thunder's games will be broadcast on NBA TV, and full coverage can be found after each one at okcthunder.com
“Last year I did a decent job of just learning the system. I have a better grasp on it,” McGary explained. “It might be a little different system, but I’m going to go into summer league open minded trying to help our team get better.”
In order to get prepared, a bevy of Thunder players have been diligently working out of the practice facility. Despite the season ending back in April, the balls have still been bouncing and sneakers squeaking on the two courts at the Thunder’s training center. With the amenities necessary to succeed, players have everything they require to improve. As a result, McGary and his fellow summer league teammates are in a strong place heading into their first official live, competitive action since the season ended.
“(Workouts) have been very good,” McGary said. “Guys have started to get back into town. The last few weeks we’ve had six or seven guys. There are a lot of individual workouts. Everybody is just trying to stay in shape and get healthy.”
Aiding that process moving forward will be the Thunder’s coaching staff, which Donovan has compiled to be an effective unit for the team. His assistant coaches include Monty Williams, who was at the helm of the New Orleans Pelicans for the past five seasons, former Thunder assistant and three-time NBA head coach Maurice Cheeks and Anthony Grant, who was most recently the head coach at the University of Alabama. Four men returning to the team – Mark Bryant and Darko Rajakovic as assistant coaches and Adam Harrington as shooting coach and Vin Bhavnani as manager of advance scouting/player development.
“We have guys and a new staff who are really encouraging. There are a lot of teaching moments,” McGary said. “They’re good with coaching us and with hands-on stuff.”
All of those coaches bring a unique set of experiences and skills to the table to help the Thunder grow and develop. The first opportunity for some of the new staff to get to work will be in the days leading up to Orlando and the time after summer league in July, August and September before training camp begins.
“We will start working here this upcoming week then I’ll be in Orlando with the team for the Summer League,” Donovan said last weekend.
In the coming days, the Thunder will announce its summer league roster and who will be coaching the squad in Orlando, but the team’s schedule has already been released:
Saturday, July 4th vs. Charlotte Hornets at 2:00 p.m. CT
Monday, July 6th vs. Orlando Magic at 2:00 p.m. CT
Tuesday, July 7th vs. LA Clippers at 4:00 p.m. CT
Thursday, July 9th vs. Memphis Grizzlies at 4:00 p.m. CT
Friday, July 10th – Championship Day, time and opponent TBD