Oklahoma City Thunder’s Title Hopes Shine with Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder has emerged as a strong contender for the NBA title, largely thanks to their superstar players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently clinched his first NBA MVP award, a notable achievement.

This Canadian sensation put up impressive numbers this season, averaging 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game. His performance has propelled the Thunder to the top spot in the Western Conference with an incredible record of 68-14.

Last year, Gilgeous-Alexander finished in second place for the MVP award, losing out to Nikola Jokić. In the playoffs, the Thunder managed to knock out Jokić’s Denver Nuggets in a closely contested seven-game series.

Originally selected as the 11th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018, he was soon part of a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. After spending just a year there, he joined the Thunder as part of a package deal that included Paul George heading to Los Angeles.

Since making the switch, Gilgeous-Alexander has really come into his own, and he’s set to be named First-Team All-NBA for the third consecutive time. Oh, and he led the league in free throws made per game over the last two seasons.

The Thunder kicked off the Western Conference Finals with a solid 114-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that also had a rough exit last year against the Dallas Mavericks. While they trailed by four points at halftime, they surged ahead significantly in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 70-40.

This marks the furthest the Thunder has advanced in the playoffs since 2016, when they had a 3-1 lead against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. Funny enough, that Warriors team was later taken down by LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the finals.

Interestingly, Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP campaign overshadowed Jokić, who was seeking his fourth MVP award in five years. No player has managed to achieve that feat since LeBron did it from 2009 to 2013.

Jokić himself had a stellar season, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game—truly remarkable numbers that earned him a spot in the ranks of elite players who average triple-doubles for the season.

As for the Thunder, who were once the Seattle Supersonics, they’re eager for their first NBA title since 1979. The last time they graced the NBA Finals was in 2012, when they faced off against LeBron and the Miami Heat.