A series of contradictions tends to follow Shai Gilgeous-Alexander whenever he walks into a room.
Such was the case about 40 minutes after the biggest win in Oklahoma City Thunder franchise history on Monday. In the moments before SGA arrived at the podium for his postgame press conference, the room was so thick with humidity that a five-ton spot cooler was needed to make it habitable. Yet Gilgeous-Alexander, clad in a dapper sweater, light pink tie, and washed denim jeans tucked neatly over his signature Converse sneakers, didn’t break a sweat.
The demeanor of the coolest man in the room mirrored his performance on the floor. SGA, the man who pulls off the impossible with mind-numbing ease, gave Oklahoma City everything it needed and then some in Game 5, totaling 31 points, 10 assists, and four blocks in a critical 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. The victory puts the Thunder just one win away from their first NBA title in franchise history and gives Gilgeous-Alexander a chance to seize the NBA’s throne and build on the legacy in Oklahoma City started by the likes of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden.
Six years ago, when Gilgeous-Alexander arrived in the Great Plains after being traded from the Clippers for Paul George, the second-year guard was armed with nothing more than fledgling potential. But in the seasons that followed, while the Thunder toiled in basketball purgatory and general manager Sam Presti methodically put together a formidable roster, selecting the likes of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren in the same draft, Gilgeous-Alexander stewarded a selfless, team-first culture that permeated the locker room, grooming his team into the image of a contender.
This year, the Thunder arrived, winning 68 games and dominating the league during the regular season as Gilgeous-Alexander earned his first MVP. In the postseason, he’s redefined what dominance looks like around these parts, beating the likes of Jokic, Ant, and Ja in a two-month span. In the Finals, he’s saved the Thunder from themselves, averaging 32 points, five assists, and five rebounds in the series; hitting timely shots; and keeping the team afloat during dry spells. In two days, he could become the first regular-season MVP to also win Finals MVP since 2013, joining the ranks of Jordan, Kareem, Moses, and LeBron, among others, and putting the finishing touches on one of the greatest reclamation projects in NBA history.
More on Game 5
“Feels good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said calmly when asked what it’s like to be on the precipice of a championship. “We got to try to stay there for as long as we can. Obviously, it's a lot easier said than done.”
In Game 5, the Thunder once again showed glimpses of their season-long dominance while sprinkling in some precarious blunders against the stubborn Pacers. But every mistake was rectified by the play from Oklahoma City’s 26-year-old MVP.
T.J. McConnell scores 13 in the third quarter to put the Pacers within five points? Gilgeous-Alexander responds with four quick scores to push the lead back to eight.
Pascal Siakam hits a 3-pointer to trim the lead to five at the start of the fourth quarter? Shai responds with a quick finger roll to get it back to seven.
With eight minutes to go, the Pacers get within two points after another Siakam 3? No worries; the MVP drives in the lane on the next possession, finds Williams on a hockey assist for a 3-pointer, and spearheads a 15-4 run to put the game out of reach.
“I was trying to affect winning,” Gilgeous-Alexander said following the game. “Trying to make a basketball play. I was trying to help the team win, trying to be in position for the next rotation, next play defensively. Whatever comes with that, comes with that.”
All season, Gilgeous-Alexander has made such performances routine, but the playoffs, much like his trademark sweaters, carry extra weight. Yet he hasn’t been deterred. Last week, he scored 15 points in the final five minutes of Game 4 to lift Oklahoma City past Indiana and tie the series at two games apiece—even though his team had trailed for most of the game.
“That’s what he’s done all season for us,” said Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins. “He’s been an elite closer. He’s a guy that just kind of continues to put our team in positions to go out there and win games.”
Over the past 12 months, the Thunder have become something of an it team, and Gilgeous-Alexander has undeniably been the face of it. During Game 5, rapper Lil Yachty sat courtside, wearing SGA’s Converse sneakers, and he stayed in the family section after the game before leaving with the entourage of the team’s captain.
Off the floor, team officials rave about the tight-knit environment he’s cultivated. Lu Dort, his best friend on the team, was also his roommate for their first few years in Oklahoma City. You don’t have to look any further than the team’s postgame interviews on the court to understand how close they’ve become. Following postseason road wins or losses, Shai has been organizing team dinners to discuss strategy or enjoy the spoils of success.
“I’m just blessed to be in a situation where everybody wants everybody to succeed,” Williams said after dropping 40 against the Pacers. “It’s such a rare thing. It’s allowed me to grow at a more rapid rate as a player because I’m not worried about ‘What if I fail?’ I know I have guys that will pick me up when I fall short, and I try to do the same thing for them. I think our team chemistry has got us here, and it’s kept us strong.”
Oklahoma City is now just one win away from its first title. If it closes out Indiana on Thursday or Sunday, the conversation will quickly shift to how soon it will win again. When you look around the Western Conference, the landscape is ripe for Shai’s blossoming act. While this summer promises to be an active one, it’s hard to envision that a contender as thorough as this one will emerge. The Grizzlies just traded Desmond Bane, leading many observers to believe that Memphis may be plotting for a rebuild. The Timberwolves are up against the salary cap, making it hard to build around Anthony Edwards in the long term. And the Denver Nuggets face the same conundrum with Nikola Jokic and his so-so supporting cast.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have Williams and Holmgren (two top-30 players in The Ringer’s Top 100) on rookie deals for the next two years and a treasure trove of draft picks to replenish their roster as this iteration of the team inevitably ages out, giving Gilgeous-Alexander the chance to oversee a dynasty even as the league actively tries to prohibit it. But for now, he is in search of a more immediate, immortal achievement.
On Monday, Gilgeous-Alexander became just the fourth player in NBA history to score 30 points or more 15 times in one postseason, joining Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and his idol Kobe Bryant. As the Thunder prepared for their final road trip of the season, Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about the honorable distinction. Ever the contradiction, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and most singular talent wasn’t interested in the attention, instead deflecting the question toward the team’s goal at hand.
“It’s cool, I guess,” he replied, slyly. “But I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning one more game.”
