2016-17 Thunder eager and confident at Media Day in OKC

The Oklahoma City Thunder assembled on Friday for Media Day. There was a buzz about the players and coaching staff as, everyone in the Thunder organization seemed excited to be together again. The team has a certain aura and it may be a key ingredient to winning this upcoming season.

Media day is the day players take promotional pictures and video for game nights at Chesapeake Energy Arena and television broadcasts. It also gives the players a chance to express their thoughts on what they are hoping to accomplish individually, as well as within the team.

How will the Thunder season unfold? Who will fans see on the floor this year? These were just some of the questions asked on Friday by media members.

"You have to adjust to the team you have and adjust night-in, night-out basis on how you want to play," Russell Westbrook explained to Nick Gallo. "You want to play fast some nights and you want to play slow. I think it depends on the game, on the situation, who is on the floor."

The Thunder underwent quite a bit of change this summer. A new leader in Russell Westbrook. An upgrade at shooting guard by adding Victor Oladipo. And of course, the fallout of the departed Kevin Durant. But it was impossible to detect any sense of worry within the organization at media day.

"(You have to) play to an identity," head coach Billy Donovan said. "But I think you want to at least feel like as a coach you're exhausting the whole roster and looking at a lot of different things and keeping guys engaged."

There is plenty to look forward to for this Thunder squad now. The team will hold its annual Blue and White scrimmage on Tuesday. At the end of this week, the team will board a flight set for Spain to play in the Global Games. Preseason games begin soon thereafter and the regular season will be here in a month.

Thunder basketball is on its way. Finally. Basketball is almost back.