Inside Oklahoma City’s historic rebuild to Western Conference No.1 seed, Josh Giddey’s contract, trade rumours, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP

Less than two years ago, they were being called “the black eye of the league”.

And all for what? Being bad for two seasons?

“I would say we’re a rebuilding team,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in his end-of-season exit interview in 2022.

“Other people like to name things because they have opinions. It’s performance art. Not everyone should be a publisher. I think there’s a difference between being opinionated and being informed.”

Don’t miss the best of the first round NBA Playoffs LIVE on ESPN available on Kayo New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

That one word, that dirty, little word — tanking — never sat well with Presti. Never accurately represented what was actually happening in Oklahoma City, not that many people actually cared anyway.

But things have quickly changed. That same franchise that was once the “black eye of the league” is now…