Three years ago, Sam Presti, the general manager for the Oklahoma City Thunder, made a promise that was likely overlooked. This was probably because the Thunder were performing very poorly at the time, and Presti's statement was expressed in language that was not easily understood.

After the 2021-22 season, Presti quoted Oklahoma's motto, "Labor omnia vincit." He explained that this Latin phrase could mean either "hard work conquers all" or "slow work conquers all," depending on how he was interpreting it.

Regardless, this principle applies to the Thunder, as they have clearly committed to both difficult and gradual development processes.

They achieved total and utter dominance.

After three years of only winning 24 games, the Thunder became NBA champions this season by defeating the Indiana Pacers in a tough seven-game NBA Finals. This success should be concerning for other NBA teams. They have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the MVP. He and all of Oklahoma City's main players are under contract for next season. Additionally, they have Nikola Topic, a 2024 lottery pick who did not play this season due to a torn ACL, and the Thunder also have two picks in the top 24 in this year's draft.

This youthful core, with a starting lineup averaging just 25.2 years, possesses a daring approach and the potential to be perennial contenders.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has won MVP, NBA Finals MVP, and the league's scoring champion titles, and is now an NBA champion, said, "We definitely still have a lot of room to improve. That's the exciting part of this. Many of us can still get better. Not many players on the team are at their best or even close to it. We have a lot to develop, both as individuals and as a team. I am positive about this team's future. This is certainly a great start."

Furthermore, their achievement of this level of progress is happening at a very favorable time.

Many teams are uncertain about the upcoming season, but Oklahoma City is not among them. Jayson Tatum in Boston, Damian Lillard in Milwaukee, and Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana all have Achilles injuries and are likely to miss most or all of next season. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers will begin his 23rd season. Stephen Curry of Golden State will be 38 next season. Kevin Durant, who is moving to Houston in a trade that will be official soon, is starting his 18th season. Philadelphia's success depends on Joel Embiid returning healthy. New York will have a new coach.

Oklahoma City seems to have all the necessary elements for optimal operation.

"Pacers coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the team's wealth of high-caliber players."

Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren clearly enjoy playing together and supporting each other, not caring who gets the credit. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein have fit perfectly into the roles the Thunder assigned them. Luguentz Dort is an excellent defender and seems to have accepted that many people might not fully appreciate how good he is on defense.

It's not only the players who are humble; the leadership also shows a similar lack of arrogance.

Caruso stated that nothing is certain in the league, highlighting how easily teams can change due to trades, injuries, or other unexpected events. He explained that reaching the top of the sport and winning a championship is truly remarkable, and it's somewhat unrealistic to think you can achieve it every year. However, he promised that they would be ready from the start of next season to improve and compete for the title again.

Sam Presti, who created the team's strategy, rarely speaks in public, and owner Clay Bennett does the same. Coach Mark Daigneault, however, remains calm during difficult times, guiding the Thunder effectively.

Daigneault stated that there's no assurance others will finish in the same way, expressing his strong desire for their success and his great happiness that they achieved it. He praised their approach, their professional behavior, their competitive spirit, and their team-oriented attitude, repeating his strong wish for them to succeed because they truly earned it.

Oklahoma City is still on an upward path, as Presti has many draft picks and financial freedom to improve the team if they want to. Now, they also have a championship to defend.

Even though people say "labor omnia vincit," there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

Presti stated in 2022 that they faced a lot of challenging work and needed to put in a great deal of effort. He explained that this commitment to hard work was central to the state's character, the community's history, and the basketball team's core identity.