Sam Presti, born in 1977, is an American sports executive, primarily known for his role as General Manager and Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. His career began with the San Antonio Spurs, where he learned under the guidance of Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford, contributing to the franchise's success. In 2007, he was named GM of the Seattle SuperSonics, staying with the team through its relocation to Oklahoma City. He is universally recognized for building the core of an NBA Finals team through the draft, selecting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden in three consecutive years. After that era ended, he orchestrated a massive rebuild by accumulating a record number of future draft picks, laying the foundation for a new period of success. For his work, he received the NBA Executive of the Year award for the 2009-2010 season and is considered one of the most skilled and forward-thinking team architects of his generation.