Sam Presti's eyes widened and a smile came across his face as a special guest arrived on the Thunder general manager's special night.
It was a surprise. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich started a waterfall of appearances at the Skirvin Hilton on Tuesday in Presti's honor. A mentor to Presti in San Antonio years before he arrived in Oklahoma City as the NBA's youngest GM, Popovich was there in the Skirvin's Crystal Room. Then arrived Thunder staffers like coach Billy Donovan and assistant GM Troy Weaver. Thunder chairman Clay Bennett was there as well.
But at the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice's Humanitarian Awards dinner on Tuesday, Presti wasn't honored for his on-court accomplishments, but for the way he's impacted the Oklahoma community and built the Thunder organization.