OKC Thunder: 3 goals for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2020-21
Season goal for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander No. 3) Take the next step
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
As mentioned earlier, SGA is currently the face of the OKC Thunder. The franchise traded away Chris Paul, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder, Danilo Gallinari, Terrance Ferguson, Abdel Nader, and so many more players meaning that only Hamidou Diallo has been with the franchise more seasons than SGA.
The fact that Sam Presti did not trade SGA says that there is a belief in the third-year star that he can lead the franchise into the future. It is obvious that the Thunder are looking to have a losing season so that they can kick start the rebuild through next year’s draft.
It is also possible that SGA will not be the best player on the Thunder roster in three year’s time. However, in order for the Thunder to move forward with their plans, SGA needs to grow again from last season. Without this, the current crop of rookies could struggle to develop at the pace required.
While this may seem to be a fair bit of pressure to put on a third-year player, SGA has the all-round game which can pull it off. While he needs to average more points, rebounds, and assists per game, it is more about wanting the ball in his hands at the end of the game. SGA is so talented, so focused, not let’s see if he can take a franchise on his back and improve it.