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The Oklahoma City Thunder can pencil in some plans for the next couple of summers. With the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Olympics right around the corner, several members of the 2025 NBA champions will take part in the international festivities.
Another was recently added. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was officially added to Team USA's coaching staff on Thursday. He joins Erik Spoelstra's bench — who takes on the baton as the new United States head coach through 2028.
Spoelstra will be aided by Daigneault, Detroit Pistons' JB Bickerstaff and Gonzaga's Mark Few. Of course, there's a solid chance that Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams could also be part of Team USA for the next two summers. Both All-NBA talents have paid their dues to achieve the prestigious honor.
Per usual, expect the United States to enter as the heavy favorite to win both events. The Men's Basketball program has collected gold medals in the last five Olympics from 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.
"It's a tremendous honor, obviously, and a privilege. I'm very humbled by it," Daigneault said. "I'm very grateful to Grant Hill, Coach Spo, Sean Ford and the rest of the USA Basketball for this tremendous opportunity."
Daigneault has had one of the most unique ascensions to the top of his profession. He spent a handful of years as the G League's OKC Blue head coach. After one year as a Thunder assistant, he was promoted to OKC's head honcho in 2020. Since then, he's risen from a rebuild coach to an NBA champion.
Entering his seventh season as the Thunder head coach, Daigneault is widely viewed as the best in franchise history and one of the best in the league. Quite the journey for a relative unknown when he was first hired to take over for Billy Donovan.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault calls it an 'honor' to join Team USA coaching staff
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