Thunder sign Mark Daigneault to contract extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed head coach Mark Daigneault to a multiple-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday. The terms of the deal have yet to be announced.

Daigneault spent five years as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's NBA G League affiliate. He helped guide the squad to three straight division titles and four G League playoff appearances. He would join the Thunder as an assistant for the 2019-20 season. 

Daigneault would be promoted to head coach of the Thunder in late 2020.

"We are thrilled to have Mark assume the role of head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder," Thunder General Manager Sam Presti said in a 2020 release. "He has been a selfless and effective leader within our organization since his arrival in 2014. 

"Mark is a values based leader, continuous learner, and someone that will help us continue the repositioning of our organization on and off the court."

The Thunder went 40-42 and earned a spot in the NBA's Play-In tournament during Daigneault's third season as head coach. They earned a 123-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans before falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference's 8th Seed Game.

A youthful team like the Thunder can only benefit from keeping its ascending roster and coaching staff in OKC.

The guard duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey will be under contract for Oklahoma City next season, according to sports contract and salaries website Spotrac. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in scoring with 31.4 points per game last year. He paved the path to a spot on the All-NBA First Team.

Keeping the 38-year-old coach on a team featuring blossoming players in Giddey, center Chet Holmgren and forward Jalen Williams can do wonders in laying the foundation for a new era in Thunder basketball.