The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, and they’re doing it behind the steady, spectacular play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With a roster full of young, ascending talent, OKC looks to be a future dynasty, with SGA leading the way. He’s not just leading the Thunder into a new era; he’s building a case to become the greatest player in franchise history.
For over a decade, the Thunder’s legacy has belonged to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Durant was the franchise’s first true superstar after the move from Seattle. A four-time scoring champion and the 2014 MVP, Durant helped lead OKC to the 2012 NBA Finals and was named to seven All-NBA teams during his time in Oklahoma City. His elite offensive play and versatility made the Thunder perennial contenders from 2010 to 2016, prior to his departure to Golden State.
Westbrook, however, stayed. After Durant’s departure, Russ carried the Thunder through a tumultuous era, earning 2017 MVP honors while becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a season, something he would repeat three more times. He remains the franchise leader in:
Together, KD and Russ defined the Thunder’s first era. They are both NBA legends and future Hall of Famers. They provided flashy highlights, two MVPs, and a finals appearance. The only thing they didn’t bring was a ring back to OKC.
Now, it’s SGA’s team.
Since arriving in Oklahoma City via the Paul George trade in 2019, Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved from an intriguing prospect into a full-blown NBA superstar. Over the past three seasons, he’s been named to the All-NBA First Team three times in a row (2023–2025), firmly establishing himself as one of the most complete and consistent guards in the league.
In his 2024–25 MVP campaign, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting a remarkable 54 percent from the field. That level of scoring efficiency is nearly unheard of for a high-usage guard—and it’s not an outlier. He’s now averaged over 30 points per game on better than 50 percent shooting for three consecutive seasons, a run of offensive dominance that puts him in rare historical company.
While critics have tried to diminish his game by labeling him a “foul baiter,” the numbers tell a different story. Despite his ability to draw contact and live at the free throw line, 29 former MVPs actually attempted more free-throws per game in their award-winning seasons than SGA did this year. His trips to the line are the result of his high volume of drives to the rim. He led the league in free throws made per game, but averaged 1.8 less attempts per game than league leader Giannis.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to 68 wins this season, tied for the fifth-most in a single season in NBA history. He did it without a traditional superstar co-star. While Jalen Williams earned All-NBA Third Team honors, he’s still a developing second option, not a proven sidekick on the level of Scottie Pippen or Dwyane Wade. This is SGA’s show, and he’s leading with total control.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s also elevated his game when it matters most. In the playoffs, his calm, calculated style has translated seamlessly to the big stage. He now has this young Thunder squad within reach of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. For context: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, despite all their individual accolades, only reached the Finals once in eight seasons together.
SGA may not match Westbrook’s explosiveness or Durant’s scoring legacy, yet, but if he can take this team further than either of them ever did and deliver a title to Oklahoma City, the GOAT conversation shifts in his favor.
Like the other teams in this year’s conference finals, the Thunder are writing a new story in this era of NBA parity. Gone are the days of superteams dominating the playoffs; now it’s about team chemistry and stars who elevate everyone around them.
Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just OKC’s best player right now, he’s building a legacy that may be the greatest in franchise history. If he leads the Thunder to their first championship, the Durant-Westbrook era will officially pass the torch.
SGA’s “foul-baiting” gets very oversold. I am not sure why only he gets criticized for something that lead scorers have been doing since Jordan. This shouldn’t overshadow SGA’s greatness, although I will admit he is not my favorite player to watch.
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