After a long, action-packed summer, training camp has finally arrived for the 2019-20 Thunder season. The first day of camp traditionally comes with a level of long-awaited anticipation from players to finally come together for the first time as an organized group leading up to the season. For a repositioning and replenishing Thunder team, it was a chance to get a small glimpse of what this intriguing mix of players will look like throughout the season. Between new additions, new diets and new physiques, the offseason set the stage for a distinct Thunder team who had their first opportunity to be on the floor together on day one of training camp.
One of the main focal points for this group coming into training camp was maintaining the overall competitiveness– an integral cog in what makes up the “Thunder way”. Over the two hours of practice, players were constantly looking up at the scoreboard during competitive drills which is something Head Coach Billy Donovan thought appropriately illustrated the competitiveness of the team.
“It’s a competitive group and they’re all prideful, and I think there’s a reason they’re NBA players and they’re at this level, because they are prideful and they are competitive. I thought they worked really hard today,” Donovan said.
The day also afforded the opportunity to go through some of the offensive and defensive identities that will make up this team. This time, including the strong defensive presence of Andre Roberson, who was able to fully participate with no restrictions during practice today. Roberson’s return to the mix certainly added to the overall excitement and energy of day one.
“First of all, it’s just great to have him out there,” said Donovan, “Generally, with most teams you’re trying to establish a defensive identity, and he’s one of the best at doing that.”
Furthermore, it was an opportunity for him to get back into the feel and rhythm of playing again as well as reincorporating his impactful skillset with the team.
“I feel great man, coming into this with a lot of emotions, obviously. It’s overall just good to be back on the court,” said Roberson, “I felt good out there, pretty much did everything. Took off a couple reps here and there, just trying to manage, see how I feel day one and go from there, gauge myself. I did everything and I felt great.”
For new faces on the team like Chris Paul, today was the first step in building on-floor camaraderie with players they haven’t played with before.
“It was good. It was real good. It was cool to get up and down with the guys, especially the guys I haven’t had the opportunity to play with yet,” said Chris Paul.
Some of the guys came into the day with some familiarity of one another from playing together in scrimmages over the summer. One of those duos was Chris Paul and Steven Adams who used to play together over the summers in Los Angeles.
“Steven is really, really good and he’s experienced, knows how to play. It was fun playing with him today because he’s just one of those guys, he’s going to do whatever it takes,” said Paul.
Learning tendencies and plays are all in the works as players gel through training camp but one thing is certain – competitiveness and communication won’t have to be learned. It is part of what makes up the Thunder identity and the internal standard of the team. Something that is expected every single day and was on display even on day one as Paul noticed:
“Just the talk and communication. That’s big on both ends. Especially defense. That’s how you build your trust. That’s something that coach has been harping on and we’re going to keep building.”
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