Sam Presti's pronouncement three years prior, emanating from his Oklahoma City general manager's perch, was perhaps understandably consigned to oblivion, owing to a confluence of factors: the Thunder's nadir of performance at that juncture and, more figuratively, the Delphic, almost sibylline, quality of Presti's pronouncements.

"'Labor omnia vincit,' intoned Presti post-2021-22, invoking a civic shibboleth of Oklahoma, its semantic valence, contingent upon Presti's interpretive schema, oscillating between 'assiduous application overcomes all' and the more nuanced, 'gradual industry achieves ultimate triumph.'"

Regardless of the specific machinations, the principle remains axiomatic for the Thunder, whose painstaking and, at times, languid efforts are nonetheless subject to its overarching influence.

Their dominion extended to encompass all before them.

Emerging from the nadir of a 24-win season just three years prior, the Oklahoma City Thunder have ascended to claim the NBA championship, vanquishing the Indiana Pacers in a protracted, seven-game Finals war of attrition—a dénouement that should send shivers down the collective spine of the league, given that their ascendant MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the core nucleus of the team remain contractually ensconced for the foreseeable future, augmented by the latent potential of lottery pick Nikola Topic, sidelined this season with an ACL rupture, and further bolstered by two top-24 picks in the upcoming draft, portending a sustained era of dominance.

Their nascent core, currently averaging a mere 25.2 years, evinces an audacity that portends sustained contention for championship honours, potentially establishing a dynasty of considerable longevity.

"Gilgeous-Alexander, garlanded with accolades from MVP to NBA Finals MVP, not to mention the league's scoring title and now, the ultimate NBA championship, posited that the team’s trajectory remained firmly ascendant, observing with perspicacity that the nascent stage of their collective and individual development constituted the very essence of their burgeoning potential; indeed, he averred that few, if any, of the team's constituent members had reached their zenith, foreshadowing a future brimming with promise and characterising their present triumph as merely an auspicious genesis."

Furthermore, the propitious confluence of circumstances enabling their attainment of this performance zenith is not without considerable significance.

Whereas a plethora of franchises face existential quandaries as they navigate the upcoming season, the Oklahoma City Thunder stand apart, seemingly immune to such uncertainties; in stark contrast, the landscape is littered with precarious situations: Jayson Tatum of Boston, Damian Lillard, now ensconced in Milwaukee, and Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana are all contending with Achilles tendon injuries, rendering their participation in the lion's share of the season a matter of grave doubt; further west, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers embarks upon his unprecedented 23rd season, while Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors approaches his 38th year, a milestone that inevitably invites scrutiny of his sustained peak performance; Kevin Durant, poised to join Houston in a trade expected to be ratified imminently, enters his 18th season, his enduring prowess notwithstanding the inherent attrition of time; in Philadelphia, the 76ers' aspirations are inextricably linked to the recuperative fortunes of Joel Embiid, whose health remains a critical and potentially volatile variable; and finally, in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks grapple with the complexities inherent in a change of coaching personnel, an undertaking fraught with both peril and promise.

Oklahoma City appears to have achieved a seemingly unimpeachable state of systemic equilibrium.

"Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle averred that the team boasts a surfeit of exceptionally talented players."

Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Holmgren evince a palpable synergy, transcending individual ego in their collaborative approach; similarly, Caruso and Hartenstein have integrated into the Thunder's strategic framework with preternatural ease. Dort, a defensive stalwart of unwavering commitment, appears to have reconciled himself to the pervasive philistinism that prevents the wider basketballing cognoscenti from fully appreciating the subtlety and efficacy of his contributions on that end of the court.

The narcissistic preening extends beyond the players; a similar dearth of self-effacement pervades the upper echelons of management.

"Caruso posited that the league's inherent precariousness, a truth often elided in the cyclical rhythms of the season, underscores the exceptional nature of championship contention. The capricious forces of trades, injuries, and unforeseen contingencies render any presumption of annual success a manifestation of unwarranted idealism; however, he affirmed their unwavering commitment to commencing next season with renewed vigour, resolutely dedicated to the pursuit of ultimate victory."

Presti, the system's architect, maintains a conspicuously low profile, a reticence mirrored by owner Clay Bennett, whilst Mark Daigneault, the head coach, embodies an almost preternatural equanimity, navigating the Thunder's trajectory with unwavering aplomb.

Daigneault remarked, "There exists no certitude that your denouement will mirror ours. My ardent desire for their success was paramount. The sheer elation I experienced at our collective achievement, granting them this well-deserved experience, was profound. Their exemplary approach, characterized by unwavering professionalism, unbridled competitiveness, and an altruistic, team-centric ethos, fueled my fervent aspiration for their triumph."

The Thunder's odyssey is far from its denouement; indeed, its genesis is only now unfolding, buttressed by Presti's formidable arsenal of draft capital and the franchise's enviable fiscal latitude to strategically augment its roster, all under the aegis of a nascent championship legacy demanding perpetual fortification.

Labor omnia vincit, and the exigencies of the task at hand remain considerable.

"Presti, in his 2022 address, acknowledged the Herculean labor ahead, emphasizing the imperative of assiduous application, invoking the ethos of the state, the historical consciousness of the community, and the very telos of the basketball team, all predicated on unremitting effort."