Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on a mission to earn chips on his shoulder.
After obtaining his first championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar plans to secure another, as his teammates have witnessed firsthand how hard he works in practice.
The 6-foot-6 guard has set his bar higher than before, being an ordinary star where winning an MVP award and an NBA title seem impossible.
He said that he always aimed to match up with LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, who already proved greatness over the years.
“Nothing against the guys my age, but the guys I can’t wait to match up against are the LeBrons, the Steph Currys, the KDs, the James Hardens,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
For the reigning MVP, he grew up watching the greats, from whom his determination to win championships comes.
“The guys I grew up watching, that have completely stamped themselves on basketball forever, that have accomplished the things I want from the game. There’s no better test to see what I’m capable of than going against those guys.”
What’s next for SGA?
The Thunder franchise continued to develop its players, resulting in a complete roster by position, from scorers to role players, which made them dominant.
With excellent management, it is now about maintaining the strength and chemistry of every player so that they can help them reach another postseason stint.
Gilgeous-Alexander literally has everything. Aside from his deep bag of scoring options and leading the team, he has teammates who were tough and experienced enough to help him get another chip.
Although not to discredit his hard work, Oklahoma has a built roster whose competitors are at their prime compared to other teams that are struggling to find that balance of young cores and veterans.
Ultimately, it will not be surprising if the Thunder earns another championship this 2025-2026 season. Still, it will undoubtedly be more challenging this time, as NBA teams have undergone significant changes this offseason.
