

At least once in our lives, each one of us has spent countless hours playing video game titles pretending to be a GM on the NBA, NFL, or even MLB games. So much so that most of us think that we’re adept at a job at the front office of any franchise in the league. But as David Kahn, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, and so many others have shown us, running a basketball team, that too in the NBA, is much harder than it looks. This makes Sam Presti’s achievements as the GM of the Oklahoma City Thunder even more impressive.
Presti, who is in his 18th year with the Thunder, has built an empire from scratch. He has overseen the rebuild of the franchise for the second time, which has led to the team producing their best regular-season campaign in its history, winning 68 games as the No. 1 seed in the postseason. Moreover, he’s also been named the NBA Basketball Executive of the Year for achieving this incredible feat. However, it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his lovely wife, Shannon O’Connor.
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Who is Sam Presti’s wife, Shannon O’Connor?
Back when Presti was named as the general manager of the Seattle Supersonics, soon to be Oklahoma City, he was just a 30-year-old guy. New team chairman Clay Bennett immediately handed Presti “complete authority and responsibility for the basketball operations.” This would trigger one of the most instrumental acquisitions in the history of basketball. Within less than a month, Presti started the makeover of this franchise. In 2007, the Sonics scooped up University of Texas product Kevin Durant as the second overall selection.

It started Presti’s era of dominance as he continued to scout and nurture talent for years to come. Throughout all of this, one person stood right by his side: Shannon O’Connor, his wife. She supported Presti through tough times, and of course, the couple enjoyed a great time as well. Connor’s journey started in a small town in Kansas, where she was inspired by nonprofit and youth education work. She has always been keen to make a positive change in society. Years later, she still enjoys spending time developing youth leadership and other programs for underserved communities. You might be wondering what else we don’t know about Presti’s better half.
What’s your perspective on:
Is Sam Presti the best GM in NBA history, or is there someone better?
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What is Shannon O’Connor’s height and age?
Shannon O’Connor is the pillar of strength in Sam Presti’s life. While Presti has been making huge moves in the hoops world and managing superstars, his wife has been looking after everything off the court. Many believed that Presti was just a puppet of the owners when he became the youngest GM in NBA history. However, soon everyone came to know that he wasn’t a yes man, but the one calling the shots.
Jerry Brew of The Seattle Times wrote that Bennett “Didn’t just hire some GM. He hired the absolute best man to step into this situation and thrive. He just ensured his franchise will be a contender within four years, possibly sooner.” Indeed, Presti went out and did that. Now, at 47, Presti has become one of the most talked-about GMs in the NBA world, and for the right reasons. Meanwhile, Shannon has maintained a low profile despite the spotlight that continues to shine on her husband.
How did Sam Presti and Shannon O’Connor meet?
Well, Sam Presti has been under the spotlight for several years now, it comes as part and parcel of being attached to the league. On the other hand, his wife isn’t that accustomed to the limelight. She likes to keep it low-key. This has provided the two with a perfect balance in their married life, which began in 2012. Although they have been together for so much time, they rarely make public appearances together. That is why no one seems to know when and how they met. And while we might not know how the beautiful couple met, there is much to find out about Shannon’s professional life.
What does Shannon O’Connor do for a living?
Shannon keeps it as low-key as possible, but her love towards philanthropy hasn’t been hidden at all. Presti’s better half spends most of her time giving back to society in whatever way possible. That’s the reason she serves as the Teen Leadership Program’s coordinator at the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. However, her responsibilities don’t end here! Shannon O’Connor also directs the Y Achievers program, which helps underserved and inner-city teens get access to higher education opportunities.

She does as much as possible for the people of the city. In fact, she’s one of the most loved people in Oklahoma City because of her efforts to bring equality to society by helping kids get a better future. If you think that’s all, you would be wrong. Shannon is also a graduate of the MAT @ USC TESOL program, which focuses on urban education and curriculum development. That’s some insane level of dedication to the cause from Shannon, but again, what else could we expect from the wife of Sam Presti? If you’re impressed by this, wait till you hear about how she has managed to raise kids with all this work.
Who are Sam Presti and Shannon O’Connor’s children?
If you thought Sam Presti’s work at the Thunder was impressive, you’ll be blown away by Shannon’s achievement of raising three wonderful kids: Nicholas and twin daughters Millie and Elise. She does all the philanthropic work in Oklahoma City, along with looking after the children. Well, she’s not just a great philanthropist, she’s also a great mother and a wife. While there’s not much known about Sam and Shannon’s kids, it’s safe to assume that they are doing great in their respective lives, just like their parents.
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Who are Shannon O’Connor’s parents?
Shannon’s roots trace back to Kansas, where she started her life and took the first steps toward her dream. Of course, she likes to stay away from the media attention and all the noise that comes with being part of the NBA life. The same seems to be true for her parents, about whom there is little to no information available.
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What is Shannon O’Connor’s net worth in 2025?
One of the biggest perks that comes with the hustle of the NBA world is the big bucks. Sam Presti has been around the longest and inked some lucrative deals. It is reported that he earns millions as the GM of the OKC Thunder. While there’s not much we know about her wife’s net worth, sure enough, it must also be in the millions, given the extent of charity work she does.
Recently, the Presti household demonstrated its commitment to the city of Oklahoma and its people by donating a whopping $600,000 to The Children’s Hospital at OU Medicine. This is just one of the many initiatives that Sam Presti and his wife Shannon run. It’s great to see a real power couple make a change through their influence as Presti continues his hunt for an NBA championship with this young and hungry OKC Thunder team.
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Is Sam Presti the best GM in NBA history, or is there someone better?