Winning six of their last seven games, the OKC Thunder continue to rule the West. MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of extraordinary, his recent 30-point performance against the Toronto Raptors being another example.
Visiting Toronto, the Thunder defeated the Raptors by a healthy 37 points. Despite not having the services of seven-footer Chet Holmgren, OKC has continued to maintain its first-seed status in the West, courtesy of SGA, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, and now Isaiah Hartenstein.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gets Candid About Respecting His Opponents
Named West’s player of the month in October and November, Shai is averaging 29.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.0 BPG on an efficient 50.7% shooting from the field. The two-time All-Star, who finished off as runner-up in the MVP race last season, appears to be leaving no stone unturned this time around. Considering OKC’s team success and SGA’s individual excellence, he is a clear MVP candidate this season.
Nonetheless, the Thunder guard isn’t one to get ahead of himself, not taking any of his opponents likely. Recently, when asked about treating the opposition with proper respect regardless of their record, Shai replied the following.
“I don’t ever play a team’s record. I go out there and give my all and my teammates do the same thing, and I think that’s why we have success.”
Visiting his native country, Shai was content with his team’s performance against the Raptors.
“We were clicking for sure. Played the right way, played aggressive, played fast. We played to our identity on both ends of the floor.”
Shai’s humble demeanor is no secret, the 6’6″ guard prefers to stay away from the glitz and glamor, letting his game speak for itself. The 26-year-old has a deep bag, allowing him to contribute on both ends of the floor. In recent years, SGA has established himself as a consensus top-five player.
SGA’s Constant Hunger to Improve
Still, in the early years of his career, Shai has instilled a work ethic, striving to be the best version of himself. The Thunder superstar has shown consistent growth over the years, exhibiting signs of a future Hall of Famer. The 2024-25 season is poised to be SGA’s year, considering him being among the top contenders to win the MVP and championship.
Addressing the reporters after the win against the Raptors, Shai shared his thoughts on wanting to improve his game on a regular basis.
“It’s fun. I like the process of getting better. Adding something is like the best feeling for me in any sport, in competitive sports. When it’s all said and done, I want to be a basketball player with no holes in my game.”
It has been quite a journey for the Kentucky product, traded from the Clippers to the Thunder as part of the Paul George deal. Nevertheless, SGA paid no heed to the outside noise, making an impact where it mattered the most. Looking at his current scenario, Shai could be staring at a potential dynasty in Oklahoma, with him being the centerpiece of it.
