The Oklahoma City Thunder held their first day of NBA training camp on Tuesday, Sept. 29. It's back to work just the day after Media Day. They're embarking on the 2026-27 regular season as a co-title favorite — alongside the San Antonio Spurs.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Chet Holmgren talked to the local media after training camp. Daigneault talked about first-day activities as the roster gels together. Meanwhile, Holmgren reflected on his summer spent with Jared McCain in offseason workouts and runs.
There were also a few notable coaches at OKC's training camp. Former NBA head coach Tom Thibodeau and former Nevada head coach Steve Alford were also in attendance. That's become an annual event as Daigneault has an open-house policy for other
coaches.
Here's what else happened at OKC's Tuesday, Sept. 29 training camp practice:
First day of 2026-27 Thunder training camp pic.twitter.com/NolM5iy6r2
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Mark Daigneault talking to Tom Thibodeau and Nevada coach Steve Alford at training camp today pic.twitter.com/Zvs2vMnMsv
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
SGA working with Jared McCain at training camp today pic.twitter.com/6Eur7vmTfW
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Chet Holmgren on his leadership: “I've always tried to lead by example, do the right thing, lead with effort and hard work.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Does he feel like an NBA vet now?: “Yeah.” pic.twitter.com/vH8YjM6bk3
Chet Holmgren on his offseason workouts and runs with Jared McCain: “There's not much incentive to involve each other on those runs if you don't actually play in the season with the guys you're out there with. When it was me and Jared, we didn't really care who was our team. We… pic.twitter.com/dHQUgBZ5Gf
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Chet Holmgren on Thomas Sorber’ rehab: “I think he's done an amazing job of that. He's worked his ass off. I know he's excited to get out there.” pic.twitter.com/f0aZMV1BF8
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Mark Daigneault on Cason Wallace: “He's looking more and more consistent, more and more comfortable, more and more confident. And that's because of the summer he has and the weight of the course of the season. Just continuing that progression.” pic.twitter.com/PKXY98y7Ce
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Mark Daigneault on Kenrich Williams setting up a TCU run this offseason: “I give him a lot of credit because he's really evolved as a leader. He's always had an outsized amount of influence in the locker room. Even when we were a younger team and he was a younger player… He's… pic.twitter.com/Qbmy0IZZyZ
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Mark Daigneault on the recent trend that young players are now more pro-ready: “One the first times it really stuck out to me was the few years where we were in our rebuild and our season ended when the regular season ended. I was at the combine with our front office group. When… pic.twitter.com/HvfH15QvK4
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Mark Daigneault on college coaches visiting OKC training camp every year: “Coaching is a fraternal environment. We try to take care of other coaches.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
Mentioned that former OU WBB coach Sherri Coale also visited them pic.twitter.com/wlPUvb8NM5
Mark Daigneault on Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic: “Sam mentioned in his media that those guys are limited in camp. That's true. It is good to have them participating in what they're participating in, but they are limited.” pic.twitter.com/F9tQT4lT0i
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 29, 2026
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Recap: What OKC Thunder said on Tuesday's 2026-27 NBA training camp
