Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder have a chance to be the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships in eight years as they enter this year’s NBA playoffs with the best record in the league.
However, Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and the frontrunner of this year’s top individual award, knows how far that goal is and refuses to get ahead of themselves.
“It’s not much. It’s a cool opportunity,” Gilgeous-Alexander told the media. “I think going through last year and realizing that’s so far down the line. So many things have to happen before we get to the Finals-clinching game.”
“To have the opportunity to repeat means we’ve won before, so it’s cool, but (there are) so many things that have to go our way.”
The last time a team won back-to-back titles was in 2018 when the Golden State Warriors, then bannered by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, toppled the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Since then, defending champions struggled to repeat as the league saw seven different champions in the last seven years.
The Thunder finished the regular season with 64 wins, weathering through numerous injuries, and rough shooting stretches. They remained the team to beat this season, despite the emergence of the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets.
Last year, the Thunder had to go through two Game 7s en route to the NBA title. The first came in the second round against the Nuggets, while the second came in the finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals Mindset for Playoff Run
GettyOKC Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander braces for a tough playoff run.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to carry the Thunder on his shoulders throughout the NBA playoffs.
With that expectation, Gilgeous-Alexander has kept himself busy in the weight room as he looks to remain healthy and in tip-top shape for what is ahead of them.
“In this time of the year, you just got to win and chip away at it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Hopefully, you build enough muscles, and the body should be ready. That’s what the regular season and summer are for me. Making sure my body is right.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the anchor that kept the Thunder going throughout the season. He averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game to remain one of the top players in the league this season.
Aside from Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder will also lean on Jalen Williams, who had numerous injury setbacks this season, and Chet Holmgren for this year’s playoff run.
They also added Jared McCain at the trade deadline on top of the likes of Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe, and Jaylin Williams.
Thunder Prepares for Either the Suns or the Warriors
GettyOKC Thunder awaits winner of the Suns-Warriors play-in game.
The Thunder has yet to have an opponent in the first round of the playoffs as the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors will battle for the No. 8 spot in the final play-in game on Friday.
OKC will face the winner of the play-in game on Sunday in their Round 1 opener. By then, the Thunder have gone through a seven-day rest and preparations for the playoffs.
Game 2 will then be on Wednesday, April 22, before the series shifts to the homecourt of the No. 8 seed.
The Thunder has been dominant in their last two Round 1 playoff series as they swept the past two No. 8 seeds.
Gilgeous-Alexander Makes Level-Headed Statement Ahead of Thunder’s NBA Title Defense