The Oklahoma City Thunder added guard Anthony Pritchard to an Exhibit 10 contract on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, making him available for their 2026-27 preseason opener.
Anthony Pritchard is a 23-year-old guard who spent last season with the G League's OKC Blue. He averaged 11.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds across 39 games. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound player also featured for the Thunder's 2026 NBA Summer League squad. His college career spanned four seasons from 2021 to 2025, starting at Tulsa before finishing at Central Michigan.
This signing represents a reward for his development within the organization. Pritchard gets a chance to compete for a spot during the preseason slate. His familiarity with the Thunder's system could give him an edge as he looks to secure a more permanent role.
The Thunder made this addition just hours after waiving Robert McCray V, who was also on an Exhibit 10 deal. McCray V, an undrafted rookie, participated in all of OKC's training camp but won't suit up for any preseason games. This kind of roster churn is common on the fringes of an NBA team as coaches finalize their evaluations.
Pritchard's signing provides backcourt depth ahead of the preseason. It also creates a compelling storyline for the opener. The preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is Pritchard's hometown. So this deal offers him a unique opportunity to play in front of a local crowd.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum salary deal that includes a bonus clause for spending time with a team's G League affiliate. It's essentially a training camp invite with a financial incentive to join the affiliated G League team if the player is waived before the NBA season starts. For Pritchard, it means he'll be with the Thunder for preseason and likely join the OKC Blue afterward if he doesn't make the final 15-man roster.
These contracts are low-risk tools for teams to evaluate talent. They allow organizations to retain a player's G League rights and offer them a modest bonus, often around $75,000, for agreeing to join their affiliate. It's a pathway many undrafted or young players use to stay connected to an NBA franchise.
The immediate focus is the 2026-27 preseason opener against the New Orleans Pelicans in Tulsa on October 8. Pritchard will be eligible to play in that contest and the team's other four preseason outings. These games are critical for evaluating the end-of-bench players and finalizing rotations before the regular season tips off.
The Thunder enter this period with positive energy from their previous campaign's finish.
Head coach Mark Daigneault will use these exhibitions to test combinations and assess players like Pritchard. The guard's performance could influence whether he earns a two-way contract or remains a key piece for the OKC Blue. His playmaking, evidenced by his 5.5 assists per game in the G League, will be under scrutiny. The front office continues to shape a competitive roster as they aim to build on last season's success.
