OKC Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates 22 birthday in Disney bubble

OKC Thunder cornerstone talent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrated his 22nd birthday in the Disney bubble.

Although the OKC Thunder had practice on Sunday, Billy Donovan elected to have a non-contact practice after two successive days of full contact. Perhaps he’s working his team back slowly or maybe he was giving his young star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a birthday reward.

While he didn’t have to go as hard in practice he was tapped to speak to the media afterward although the scribes didn’t keep him long.

There were a few key points the combo guard touched on in the virtual session. One was his excitement about being back as they hone in on their August 1st return to play.

SGA noted one of his best friends on the team is Darius Bazley who he’s often seen spending time with along with Chris Paul. On the latter, Gilgeous-Alexander pointed to his leadership stating how CP3 has helped him in many ways off the court such as his diet and ways how he can achieve career longevity.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turns 22

In recent interviews, Paul referred to the youngster as his brother and spoke of how much time the trio (Bazley, SGA, CP3) spends together. That was on full display the first night they were no longer in quarantine as the trio played a game of cornhole.

The Canadian turned 22 on Sunday and received messages from his teammates via social media even though they are all enclosed in the Disney bubble.

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Chris Paul’s Instagram birthday message to SGA featured a picture of the duo from the night when the team wore the suits gifted to them by their captain.

And, as is typical of their relationship he also gave a little shot at his younger teammate stating ‘one day you’re gonna have to tell them who really put you on to game“. Since Shai is well known for his fashion drip, presumably that’s what Paul meant.

Several teammates and NBA players reached out to SGA sending him birthday greetings – Shai posted them in his Instagram story. Luguentz Dort, Hamidou Diallo, and Dennis Schroder all messaged Shai as did fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson and other NBA players like PJ Washington.

On that note, when the team was preparing to leave for Orlando, Gilgeous-Alexander noted he was packing enough to last until the finals. He’ll have to suffice with showing off his Converse shoes instead of his fashion though since the NBA announced players will get suited up in their team uniforms at the hotel and travel to games like that.

We’re not sure what SGA got up to after practice on Sunday but hopefully whatever he did involved a cake at some point with 22 candles on it.

Here’s wishing Shai a happy 22nd complete with a great performance in Orlando and a year full of happiness and good health.