Another MVP for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is reminder of OKC's charmed NBA life | Carlson
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thanked his Thunder teammates first because of course he did. Even though Sunday was when he officially became only the fifth guard in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards, he is the anti-superstar.
Content in the background.
Happy to share the limelight.
Setting the tone without saying a word.
“Everything you guys do to make me a better player,” SGA told his teammates Sunday evening at the team’s practice facility, “I really appreciate you guys.”
On a night Gilgeous-Alexander was being celebrated for being the best, the most, the greatest — and make no mistake, he wants to be in that greatest-ever conversation one day — the message was clear. Teamwork is key. Togetherness is vital. All for one, and one for all, even down to the matching Burberry trench coats and Audemar Piguet watches that SGA bought as thank yous for all of his teammates who happily wore them on stage.
Even though Gilgeous-Alexander is another transcendent talent in Oklahoma City, his approach and his mentality has elevated the Thunder.
One championship is already in the trophy case, and even with the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama waiting in the soon-to-tipoff Western Conference finals, no one would be surprised if this Thunder core adds more Larrys before all is said and done.
Talk about a charmed NBA life.
How lucky are we, Oklahoma City?
Let us count the ways.
SGA is the first Thunder player to not only win back-to-back MVPs but also win the league’s top individual award multiple times. He admitted that is special.
“And not really for me personally but more so for the city and organization,” he said. “Someone told me this, that there’s been four MVPs the last 12 years to go through this building … ”
It’s actually four in 13 years, but who’s counting?
“ … and I don’t think that’s coincidence. “There’s a reason why you have success when you come through this program in this facility, in this city.”
The level of talent that we’ve gotten to enjoy in 18 seasons of Thunder is astounding. Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook. Now SGA. All of them had MVP seasons in OKC jerseys.
And we got to see James Harden before he became an MVP. Sore subject I know, Thunder fans, but facts are facts.
All of these players are future Hall of Famers.
And we may be seeing other future MVPs now in Thunder blue. It wouldn’t be a total surprise to see Chet Holmgren win an MVP at some point in his career. Or Jalen Williams. Or even Ajay Mitchell. Maybe it’s premature to lump Mitchell in with those other young superstars, but still. The current talent is uber elite again.
Yes, Sam Presti brings in great players, but the Thunder develops them. Whether it was the Scott Brooks regime or the Billy Donovan era back in the day or it’s Mark Daigneault and the current bunch now, talent has been built upon.
“I wasn’t always this basketball player,” SGA said Sunday as he thanked the coaching staff, “but you guys stuck with it and stuck by me.”
Consider this: there are eight franchises that have never had an NBA MVP. Not one. Not ever. The Grizzlies, Hornets, Magic, Nets, Pacers, Pistons, Pelicans and Raptors comprise that group.
The Nets have been around for 50 years.
The Pistons have been in the NBA for 77 years.
Neither has an MVP.
In less than two decades, the Thunder has had four.
And those superstars have made the Thunder a playoff regular with 13 appearances in the last 17 years. The longest playoff layoff was three years, the reposition-replenish-rebuild years.
SGA actually remembers those fondly.
“I really, really, really knew (the Thunder fans) were real when we sucked for three years,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s when I realized they really love us, and we’re really part of the city.”
Safe to say, the Thunder is even more lovable now, not only having won the title a year ago but also making the playoffs for the third consecutive year. That might not seem like much, but only six teams have longer current streaks: Celtics (12), Nuggets (8), Timberwolves (5), and Cavaliers, Lakers and Knicks (4).
Add in three consecutive years with at least one series win in the playoffs, and lots of teams would give Sam Presti a few more first-round picks to be able to do that.
And the possibility of back-to-back titles?
There’s lots more basketball to be played before that happens, but winning another is clearly top of mind for the top Thunder. When Gilgeous-Alexander thanked his teammates Sunday night, he closed with a directive that was as serious as it was brief.
“We have a lot more work to do,” he said, rolling his index fingers around each other. “So after tonight, get back to work.”
How lucky?
So lucky.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP is reminder of OKC's charmed NBA life
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