Well, it looks like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a name that now resonates with MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring champion accolades, has finally let the curtain drop. In a recent address, SGA shared candid thoughts that were notably absent during his monumental 2024-25 season. Despite the Thunder’s comprehensive dominance, there’s no love lost between him and his critics.
Hailing from Toronto, SGA penned a message that took aim at the naysayers, calling their skepticism little more than “rooted in resentment.” All the while, his team rocked the basketball world from tip-off to their final buzzer, and they did so with a powerful focus on the game, ignoring all the outside chatter. Interestingly, SGA saved a special note for those fickle fans who began cheering only once the Thunder stood victorious.
SGA also shone a light on why he’s been perceived as humble or “nonchalant.” It wasn’t years of indifference, but calculated silence, a silence he carried until he could silence his detractors with his accomplishments on the court. Now that the Larry O’Brien Trophy is his, Gilgeous-Alexander declares his primary competition is merely “the man in the reflection.”
His recent post gives us a glimpse of a competitive edge previously veiled by his calm demeanor. It turns out, SGA was expertly keeping his true temperament under wraps, playing the quiet game until the pinnacle was undeniably his.
Back in March, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported a surprising sentiment across the league: some players were eager to draw the Thunder in the playoffs, not seeing them as legitimate threats. It’s fascinating to speculate how they might reconsider as we gear up for the 2025-26 season. With the Thunder now standing tall as the odds-on favorites to defend their championship, and rival teams like the Celtics, Pacers, Mavericks, and Bucks nursing significant injuries, repeating as champions could turn into a smoother ride than anticipated. The Thunder are on a mission, their eyes set on another crowning achievement.
