Mark Daigneault has built a formidable project with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, they have consistently stayed at the top of the competition. This success highlights their enviable performance in the league. To achieve such impressive results, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played a vital role. He has been instrumental in crafting a historic season for the Thunder. As a result, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce commended his influence on the franchise.
“A championship for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will not only make him the greatest Thunder, it ensures his statue at the tender age of 26…If you were to leave Oklahoma City after this year, best believe they don’t put a statue of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for giving OKC their first NBA championship in franchise history, which I believe will happen. He’s been unstoppable in these playoffs, he’s had an unbelievable run,” Paul Pierce said, via SpeakOnFS.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has dominated the NBA this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Over 76 games, he has averaged an outstanding 32.7 points per game. Moreover, he adds 5 rebounds and 6.4 assists to his impressive stats. Consequently, his stellar performances earned him the MVP award, underscoring his impact.
Besides, his leadership and skill have propelled the Thunder to their first Finals appearance in 13 years, breaking a prolonged drought for the franchise. If he leads the team to a championship victory, it would mark the Thunder’s first title ever, cementing his legacy in franchise history. As he stands on the brink of making history, fans and analysts alike eagerly watch to see if he can cap this remarkable season with the ultimate prize.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers Paycom Center on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
His impressive season might still reach another historic level. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could finish the season with a rare achievement last seen in 2012, when LeBron James led his team to the title while earning the league’s highest individual honors. If the Thunder win the title and Shai adds the Finals MVP to his resume, he would become just the 11th player in NBA history to capture both MVP awards in the same season.
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Despite standing on the verge of making both NBA and Thunder history, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps a clear head. He enters the NBA Finals with the same calm confidence that fueled his postseason run. At the press conference, he also made sure to acknowledge the Indiana Pacers.
“I don’t think they’ve changed much. They were a really good team back then. They were on a roll back then… They’re on a roll now… Since January, us and them have the best records in the NBA. They’ve been playing good basketball… They’re gonna be a tough opponent regardless,” he said.
