Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey from promising young guard to MVP candidate has been one of the brightest success stories for the Oklahoma City Thunder — and it’s a story that continues to unfold in spectacular fashion. Following the Thunder’s historic 131-80 blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, Gilgeous-Alexander took a moment to reflect on the trust and patience that helped him blossom into one of the league’s brightest stars.
When asked about Thunder general manager Sam Presti, who was seen gesturing proudly from the crowd during Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear just how important Presti’s support has been throughout his career.
“Sam specifically, and the organization, has given me a runway to figure it out, and kind of just feel it out throughout my career — I think that’s why I’m the player I am today,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I had a clean runway. I didn’t have to worry about making mistakes. I could just trust my work and learn from my experiences. So, yeah, he has a big part.”
Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a steady performance in the Thunder’s dominant win, recording 15 points, five assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. However, it was Oklahoma City’s depth that truly overwhelmed Memphis. Aaron Wiggins led six players in double figures with 21 points off the bench. Rising star Chet Holmgren posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 15 points, five assists, and two blocks in a well-rounded Thunder effort.
Head coach Mark Daigneault, though thrilled with the win, made it clear that the Thunder are expecting a much tougher test in Game 2.
“We did a good job tonally to start the game. We were ready to play, thought we were tight in our stuff, and set a good tone,” Daigneault said. “But [the Grizzlies] played 36 hours ago and had an emotional game. Had to turn around and play at noon today, which is a really tough turnaround. They’re going to be better Tuesday.”
Daigneault emphasized that the Thunder can’t afford to get complacent, no matter how dominant Game 1 looked on the scoreboard.
“They’re going to be fresher. They’re big-time competitors. So, we need to be ready to play on Tuesday.”
Jalen Williams echoed that same cautionary message.
“They just played like 36 hours ago,” Williams said. “They’re kind of coming in here… still have to take a little bit of this win, with like, they’re going to be way better Game 2.”
The Thunder, who finished the regular season as the top seed in the Western Conference, looked every bit the part in their playoff opener. Their mix of young energy, defensive tenacity, and star power made them overwhelming for a shorthanded Grizzlies squad. However, the message from the locker room was unified: Game 1 is history, and the real test begins now.
The Thunder will look to protect their home court again when they host Memphis for Game 2 on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.
