All articles tagged with #shai gilgeous alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned to X to publicly congratulate Russell Westbrook on his retirement, posting for the first time in years. Although Westbrook and Gilgeous-Alexander never played together in Oklahoma City, Westbrook’s storied Thunder career is celebrated as he nears Hall of Fame consideration, with speculation that his jersey could be retired at the Paycom Center.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander publicly back Chet Holmgren after a challenging seven-game series against Victor Wembanyama, highlighting his importance to OKC’s structure and the team’s success. The front office is also weighing Holmgren’s future as extensions loom for Wallace, while Nikola Topic discusses how overcoming ACL injury and cancer has prepared him to contribute moving forward.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and handed nine assists in Game 7, but the Thunder were edged out by the Spurs. Oklahoma City played shorthanded due to injuries to Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf), which limited their ceiling, though coach Mark Daigneault praised the team's resilience and signaled confidence in a healthier roster for 2026–27. Williams’ health would have mattered, Cason Wallace delivered late, and SGA credited San Antonio’s cohesive, well-coached play as a key factor in the win.
Oklahoma City’s bid for back-to-back titles ended with a 111-103 Game 7 loss to San Antonio as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the Thunder with 35 points, though no other player reached 20. SGA averaged 27.6 PPG in the playoffs, Ajay Mitchell added 15.6 PPG as the second-leading scorer, and Jalen Williams battled injuries, limiting him to five postseason games. Despite the setback, SGA expressed confidence he’ll return stronger in 2026-27 to chase a title.
The Thunder’s 64–18 season ended with a Game 7 loss to the Spurs, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-level campaign, as Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio halted OKC’s title defense. Now Oklahoma City must navigate a costly core, decide on Isaiah Hartenstein’s $28.5M option and Dort/Williams extensions, and determine Cason Wallace’s extension, all while leveraging deep draft capital and looming second-apron luxury-tax concerns to stay title-contending under Sam Presti.
San Antonio stunned Oklahoma City 111-103 in Game 7 to reach the NBA Finals against the Knicks, riding a balanced, deep rotation and a late, foul-free stretch from Victor Wembanyama after a clutch block by Luke Kornet; the Thunder’s strength was their depth and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’ scoring, but they faltered as the Spurs’ defense and timely contributions carried them past the defending champs.
Spurs and Thunder collide in a climactic West Finals Game 7 (8 PM ET on NBC/Peacock) with a Finals berth on the line. San Antonio leads the season series 7-4, while Oklahoma City is 4-0 at home in Game 7s this era, making this a high-stakes showdown centered on Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the two teams chase a trip to the NBA Finals against the Knicks.
In a winner-take-all Game 7 of the West Finals, the San Antonio Spurs travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder for a spot in the NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama looks to replicate his Game 6 performance to push the Spurs past a veteran OKC squad led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while X‑factors Dylan Harper and Alex Caruso could swing the outcome. The piece also highlights the need for MVP-caliber play from SGA, the significance of Game 7 experience and home-court dynamics, and notes injuries (Jalen Williams out) that could influence the decisive showdown.
After a 118-91 setback in Game 6, the Thunder host the Spurs for a decisive Game 7, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calling it the biggest game of his career as Oklahoma City fights to repeat as champions. Injuries complicate OKC’s bid, as Jalen Williams is out for Game 7 and Ajay Mitchell is doubtful, while Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio look to close out on the road. OKC’s strong home record this postseason and the lessons from their title run supply confidence, even as the Spurs push toward a Finals berth.
OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a shorthanded Thunder toward the NBA Finals, while Victor Wembanyama draws praise and relatively light punishment in the Western Conference Finals, fueling a debate about league favoritism as SGA faces scrutiny for his style and free-throw approach. Oklahoma City sits one win from the Finals.
OKC leads 3-2 in the West Finals and can punch a Finals ticket with a win in Game 6 at San Antonio, where the Spurs must extend the series behind Victor Wembanyama as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anchors the Thunder in a razor-thin, high-stakes showdown.
Underdog Sports received a cease-and-desist letter from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s lawyers after promoting ‘Unethical Hoops,’ an Operation-inspired game that mocks the two-time NBA MVP’s foul-drawing; the letter demands Underdog stop using Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL in all media and promotions, destroy the board game, and desist from further use of his name, image, or likeness.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s legal team issued a cease-and-desist to Underdog over its viral “Unethical Hoops” board game that mocks the Thunder star’s flopping. The move sparked a polarized NBA reaction, with critics calling it pathetic while others defend image-rights and the right to profit from NIL. Underdog says it won’t remove the game, highlighting ongoing tensions between athletes’ rights and viral, jokey content in the playoff-era NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s lawyers served a cease-and-desist to Underdog Sports over a promo game called Unethical Hoops that buzzed for a foul whenever SGA was touched. The letter demands the destruction of all copies and an end to using his name, image, or NIL across media and products. Underdog declined to comment, and the game remained online as the dispute unfolds amid ongoing debates about SGA’s foul-drawing style and ethical considerations in his play.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127–114 in Game 5, overcoming a rough start from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as they leaned on depth and tactical adjustments—Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Kenrich Williams provided scoring while coach Mark Daigneault deployed multiple defenses to slow Victor Wembanyama, who played 38 minutes with limited impact and the Spurs’ offense faded after a strong opener.