Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The Unstoppable Force Driving Oklahoma City Thunder’s Championship Bid
In an era dominated by superstars, one player has emerged as a force to be reckoned with: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 26-year-old point guard has been instrumental in propelling the Oklahoma City Thunder to the cusp of their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle. According to a report by CNN, Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest players in NBA history.
The CNN report highlights that in 2000, Shaquille O’Neal achieved a remarkable feat, winning the scoring title, regular season MVP, and NBA Finals MVP, culminating in a Lakers championship. Only three players have ever achieved this trifecta: O’Neal, Michael Jordan (four times), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This impressive list of players has not been expanded since. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now knocking on history’s door, with his calm and composed demeanor belied by his incredible skills on the court.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s style has left defenses bewildered and struggling to keep up. Through the first two games of the NBA Finals, he scored 72 points, the most ever by a player in their first two career Finals games. He has topped 30 points in every game so far and is averaging more than 30 points per game in the postseason. As CNN notes, "His smooth, yet herky-jerky style has had defenses guessing and gasping all season."
In a post-game interview, Gilgeous-Alexander remained humble about his achievements, saying, "I’m being myself. I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far." This level-headed approach has been a hallmark of his game, earning him praise from his coach, Mark Daigneault, who said, "He just continues to progress and improve and rise to every occasion. Yeah, unsurprising at this point. It’s just kind of what he does."
Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance extends beyond his offense. He has also been a defensive stalwart, with seven steals already in the series. According to CNN, he is one of just four players in Finals history to post back-to-back games with 30-plus points and three or more steals, joining an elite group of players including Rick Barry, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James.
The CNN report also notes that Gilgeous-Alexander’s entire season has been a masterclass. He is now the 12th player in NBA history to score more than 3,000 points across the regular season and playoffs, joining the likes of Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kobe Bryant. His impressive form has not gone unnoticed by opposing teams, with Pacers coach Rick Carlisle saying, "Shai, you can mark down 34 points before they even get on the plane for the next game. The guy’s going to score. We’ve got to find ways to make it as tough as possible on him."
What sets Gilgeous-Alexander apart is that he is a point guard, a rare occurrence in today’s NBA, where wings and bigs typically dominate the Finals stage. As CNN observes, in the past 35 years, only Steph Curry has clearly held the mantle of undisputed engine of a Finals team while winning a championship.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, with Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, are the youngest team in the NBA, with a core that includes 24-year-old Jalen Williams and 23-year-old Chet Holmgren. Their arrival ahead of schedule is a testament to Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership and skill. If he completes the journey and delivers a championship to Oklahoma City, it won’t just be the crowning achievement of a breakout year; it will be one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. As CNN concludes, "If he completes the journey and delivers a championship to Oklahoma City, it won’t just be the crowning achievement of a breakout year. It will be one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history."
