Three years ago, Sam Presti, the general manager for Oklahoma City, made a promise. Many people might have missed it because the Thunder team was not playing well, and his words were hard to understand.

After the 2021-22 season, Presti quoted a Latin phrase, "Labor omnia vincit," which is a motto in Oklahoma. He explained that it could mean "hard work conquers all" or "slow, steady work wins."

Either way, this applies to the Thunder, who have worked hard and steadily.

They achieved total victory.

The Thunder, who didn't win many games for three years, had a very successful season, winning 84 games and becoming NBA champions after defeating the Indiana Pacers in a difficult seven-game final series. This success should make other NBA teams concerned. Their best player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is the MVP, and all their important players are signed for next season. They also have a talented young player, Nikola Topic, who was injured this season but will play next year, and they have two high draft picks this year, which means the Thunder will be a very strong team in the future.

With a young starting lineup averaging around 25 years old, they're playing with confidence and have the potential to be competitive for years to come.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has won many awards like MVP and NBA champion, thinks the team can still get much better. He said that many players are not yet at their best, which means there is a good future for them as individuals and as a team. He also mentioned, "This is a really good start."

It's good that they are improving so much at this time.

Many basketball teams have questions about the next season, but Oklahoma City does not. Several important players, such as Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton, have Achilles injuries and will likely miss most or all of the season. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers will begin his 23rd season, and Stephen Curry of Golden State will turn 38. Kevin Durant is starting his 18th season and will soon play for Houston. Philadelphia's success depends on Joel Embiid being healthy, and New York will have a new coach.

Oklahoma City appears to have all the key elements for success.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the team has many talented players.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren clearly enjoy playing together and don't care who gets the credit. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein have easily fit into the roles the Thunder gave them. Luguentz Dort is a strong defender, but he knows that many people might not fully appreciate how good he is at defense.

It's not just the players who don't care about showing off; the leaders feel the same way.

Caruso said that nothing is certain in this league, and people often forget this. Teams can change quickly because of trades, injuries, or things you can't control. Reaching the top of this sport and winning is truly amazing. It's a bit unrealistic to think you can just win every year. But we will be ready on Day 1 next season to improve and try to win again.

Sam Presti, who plans everything for the team, rarely speaks in public, and the owner, Clay Bennett, also prefers to stay quiet. Coach Mark Daigneault stays calm even when things are difficult, which makes him a great leader for the Thunder team.

Daigneault said there was no guarantee they would finish the same way his team did. He really wanted them to win. He was very happy they achieved it and could experience this, because they deserved it. He admired their approach, their professional attitude, their competitive spirit, and how they always put the team first. He repeated that he really wanted them to succeed.

The Thunder's journey is just starting, even though they've had recent success. General Manager Presti has many draft picks, and the team has enough money to get new players if they want to. Now, they also need to defend their championship.

Hard work conquers everything; however, there's still more to be done.

In 2022, Presti said they had a lot of difficult work ahead and needed to work hard to achieve their goals. He explained that this effort was central to the state's values, the community's history, and the basketball team's identity.