Thunder’s Alexander flies high
“I think we’re going to be a very good team a lot sooner than people think, so I think it’s pretty easy for me [to be patient],” he said. “I see the growth every day. I see the growth over the last five months, year, two years, and I’m very excited.”
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points that night, including 16 of 16 from the free throw line, and the Thunder crushed the Philadelphia 76ers 133-114 for a big win. They went on to win at Chicago and Brooklyn, completing an Eastern Conference road trip with a 3-1 record that has garnered attention as their young talent continues to develop nicely.
It was a crystallizing comment from SGA, his initials-only nickname now commonplace in the NBA lexicon thanks to his 31 points per game average, that seemed to quash any lingering speculation about his involvement in the Thunder’s plan.
Having an elite player is vital: you either have one or you spend every day trying to get one, but it rarely works unless that player is fully committed to the plan. Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance over the last season and a half has him on the cusp of being recognized as a legitimate superstar, and his first All-Star Game appearance is coming soon. So this is not an inconsequential position for him.
The idea that it was some sort of bold statement induces head shaking in Oklahoma City, where there has been a development of trust and cooperation over the years. Gilgeous-Alexander has repeatedly pledged his commitment and expressed confidence in general manager Sam Presti and coach Mark Daigneault, speaking of being an enthusiastic member of their strategy sessions.
A team meeting with Presti, after the team began its first true rebuild when it traded point guards Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder in 2021 to clear the way for Gilgeous-Alexander as the franchise’s lead shooting guard, has always stuck with him.
“Sam talked to us and used this word that really hit the nail on the head: catalyst,” Gilgeous-Alexander said last year. “That’s the perfect word to describe the opportunity I have. I have the opportunity to really build something and be on the cutting edge. That’s something I know, embrace every day and aim to maximize.”
Despite these types of comments and the five-year, $170 million contract signed after those changes in 2021 (without an out-of-contract clause), other teams kept their eyes on him. While this is only Gilgeous-Alexander’s fifth season and he’s only 24 years old, other teams wondered if his timeline was the same as the Thunder’s, regardless of what was said.
Well, the timeline is changing.
The Thunder started the week tied for 10th place in the Western Conference. They have a 9-5 record over the last month despite some struggles on the road, which is no surprise for their young roster, and they have the easiest remaining schedule of the teams in the West.
One of the most telling takeaways from the recent All-Star voting is how close Gilgeous-Alexander has been to Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, one of the league’s young faces. It was a strong indication that fans have taken notice of his fearless style of play (he leads the league in penetrations to the basket per game) and the traction he gained by hitting two game-winning shots in the first two months of the season.
Last week, TNT modified its schedule to put the Thunder on national television for the first time since the 2020 playoffs on the Orlando, Florida, bubble for a game in Miami. Expect more OKC games to come on national television.
There’s a lot to be said for where the Thunder are as a franchise. They appear to be having a pivotal season after two years out of the playoffs. Second-year point guard Josh Giddey has blossomed in recent weeks, his shooting vastly improved working with respected developmental coach Chip Engelland, who was hired from the San Antonio Spurs last summer. Rookie forward Jalen Williams, one of the fruits of the 2019 Paul George trade that also brought in Gilgeous-Alexander, looks like a promising prospect. No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren has yet to play as he will miss the season due to a foot injury.
The Thunder own 13 first-round picks between now and 2027. They are projected to have more than $30 million in salary cap space this summer. They also have the rights to Serbian point guard Vasilije Micić, who plays in Turkey and is considered one of the best players in the Euroleague. He could be ready to come to the NBA next season, and the Thunder are in position to sign him or trade his rights elsewhere for value.
