Hoop dreams: Sam Presti’s ride from CCHS to NBA crown

Following the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA championship win, Sam Presti, the team's executive vice president and general manager, texted his former high school basketball coach, John McNamara. Presti expressed his gratitude for the role McNamara played in his life, which McNamara described as reflecting Presti's integrity and willingness to share success.

Presti, a 1995 graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS), attributes his success to his upbringing in Concord, Massachusetts. He stated he "never would have been" who he is today without those Concord influences and considers himself "a product of all those people" who helped him, feeling fortunate for the relationships and community he grew up in.

Presti started playing basketball relatively late, having played baseball in his early years. His interest shifted to basketball during his sophomore year, spending much of his youth playing on various hidden courts around Concord. He described being captain of the CCHS Patriots team as "everything," emphasizing the importance of playing with friends and representing his town, which he took very seriously.

Presti highlighted special education teacher Harriet Stevens as a major influence, calling her more than a teacher – an encourager and a source of confidence who "met me where I was and stayed with me." Stevens expressed feeling privileged to be Presti's friend and mentor, noting the unusual pleasure of seeing the results of her work and that it makes her very happy.