Thunder general manager Sam Presti says part of his philosophy for building a championship-caliber roster comes from an unlikely source: Pulitzer Prize–winning author Robert Caro.
As Baxter Holmes of ESPN writes, Presti has long admired Caro’s exhaustive research style, particularly in Caro’s extensive writings on historical figures such as Lyndon Johnson and his years in the U.S. Senate.
Presti explained that Caro’s approach resonates with him as an executive trying to shape a team.
“One of my favorite authors, Robert Caro, has a great saying about research, where he says, ‘You have to turn every single page,’ and I really like that relative to what it is that we have to do in order to discover the team,” Presti said.
“We have to really understand and go through every iteration to ensure that we’re not shutting off potential pathways that could really help us or get us to another level, whether it’s now or in the future. … I think by turning every page, you give yourself every opportunity.”
Northwest Notes: J. Williams, Presti, Wolves, C. Williams https://t.co/XitwkJxt9Z pic.twitter.com/5d8cfTjfWh
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 27, 2025
