Weathering the Storm: Daigneault Postgame, Thunder vs. Clippers (October 25, 2026)
I’m writing this a few days later, because I needed time too. I hope J-Dub is doing well, and I wish him a speedy recovery.
1. We’re Not Doing Great
“Yeah, those are tough, man. Yeah, I don’t know. We’re not doing great. You know, that’s tough on the guys. Everyone empathizes, I think, both teams, in those situations.”
“We’re planning on coming in tomorrow, and I’m holding that because I think it’s good to get around each other when you get through some tough situations.”
Reflection
Sometimes life just hits you, and there’s nothing you can do about it. I don’t know what he was going through in that moment. He wasn’t just losing players. He’s the leader, and everyone watches how he carries himself. He can’t be overly down, but he didn’t pretend either. That takes a high level of emotional intelligence.
2. Feel the Way You Do
“At this point, you just got to kind of allow yourself to feel the way you do, you know, the whole team.”
Reflection
This one hits closer to home for me. I’m working on being more logical and process-oriented, which is a big part of why I love these pressers. But even with all the planning, sometimes life just comes at you. Jalen, Cason, and the whole team had plans for this year. Eventually you pick up the pieces, readjust, and make new plans. My grandma used to say, “How you see life is how you live it.” She didn’t mean your point of view. She meant that however life comes at you, that’s how you take it. When it comes in a way that isn’t pleasant, you don’t run from the reality. You take it. Sometimes you feel sad, tired, or frustrated, and it isn’t about fixing it. It’s okay to feel the feelings.