Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti addresses criticism of center Chet Holmgren after the team’s postseason ended with a Western Conference Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Multiple outlets report that Presti reiterates his belief in Holmgren following a difficult series in which the forward/center struggled against San Antonio’s defense. The reports place Holmgren’s performance within the broader context of the Thunder failing to defend their NBA title, as Oklahoma City falls short of another championship run. Presti’s comments emphasize confidence in Holmgren despite the outcome of the series, with the tone focused on long-term evaluation rather than the immediate results. While the articles differ in framing—one focusing specifically on Presti’s defense and another situating the comments within the Thunder’s overall playoff failure—they agree on the core points: the Spurs defeat ends Oklahoma City’s title defense, Holmgren’s matchup problems are discussed publicly, and Presti responds by standing behind the player.