Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Instantly Becomes The Best Thunder Player Ever If They Win This Championship

When you sit and think about it, for such a young franchise, the Oklahoma City Thunder and their fans have been blessed with some of the league's best players since they moved from Seattle in 2008. When the franchise arrived in Oklahoma, the future was very bright, as they were being led by a young duo in 20-year-olds Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Later on, the team drafted a young guard in James Harden and a forward in Serge Ibaka to form one of the scariest young cores in the NBA.

Of course, we know the story from there: Durant, Westbrook, and Harden helped lead the team to its first finals appearance in franchise history in 2012. Oklahoma City lost that series to Miami, but it appeared the Thunder were destined for greatness behind their young Big Three. However, after Game 5 of those Finals, Durant, Westbrook, and Harden never played a game as a trio again and, year after year, became somewhat of a disappointment. Durant and Westbrook did go on to win MVP awards in Oklahoma City, but Harden went on to become a superstar in Houston. At the time, the trio was considered an almost unfair level of young talent. Yet, neither Durant, Harden, nor Westbrook was able to bring a championship to Oklahoma City.

Which is why I think if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder to a title this year, he instantly becomes the greatest player in franchise history.

Some may think that is a bit bold considering Gilgeous-Alexander may not have the peak of Durant or longevity of Westbrook in Oklahoma City, but he would have done what neither of those were able to do: bring the city a championship. Not to mention, he would’ve done it without an MVP-level player beside him, like the ones who came before him did.

Shai didn’t go to Oklahoma City to join a ready-made team; in fact, after the team made the playoffs in 2020 (his first year in OKC), the team decided it was time to tank. During those losing years as he was beginning to become a star, nobody would have killed him for asking to join a more ready team.

Instead, he decided when times get tough, you don't run, you endure, and those tough times make you stronger. Gilgeous-Alexander instead quietly went to work, transformed himself into a league MVP, and became the anchor of a team that is four wins away from arguably going down as one of the best single-season teams in NBA history behind a potentially top-five season by a guard in NBA history from Gilgeous-Alexander.

Now, with a core that includes Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and plenty of draft picks, Shai emerged as the leader of a sustainable contender constructed the right way.

If the Thunder can finish the job and Shai caps off this historic season with a Finals MVP to go alongside his regular season MVP, I would say the conversation is done; he becomes the greatest player in franchise history.

In a franchise defined by potential and disappointment, Gilgeous-Alexander has the chance to do what the stars in Oklahoma City before him never could do: hang a banner. That would cement his legacy in OKC as the one who finally got it done.

And with this team being so young, who's to say this wouldn't be the first of many?