The OKC Thunder Media Day offered up an opportunity to hear from the players again with perhaps the most anticipated being cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The captain returns healthy and ready to go after an injury-plagued year where that limited him to 35 games. Experts and analysts predict SGA will be a key candidate to win Most Improved Player this season.
Presti spoke about his cornerstone captain in his Friday presser saying he’s in a great spot. The OKC Thunder VP had just finished watching SGA workout that morning and backed up the team’s decision to take a conservative approach to the torn plantar fascia the star suffered.
While most believe that decision was driven more by the team tanking the truth is it was the smartest move. This way Gilgeous-Alexander is less likely to suffer recurring issues. The bespeckled exec also spoke of SGA’s mature mindset and commitment to the OKC Thunder team goal of building a contender.
"“As far as the extension, it’s wonderful. I think it’s great. I think it’s great for him. He’s certainly one of the bright rising stars in the NBA, but the thing about him and the thing that I really appreciate and I think is a great thing for our organization is his mindset and his mentality is really mature. He understands the process of improvement. He understands how to stay present. He knows things don’t happen overnight.”"
OKC Thunder superstar Gilgeous-Alexander – ‘jobs not done, works not done”
As the young superstar took to the podium to answer questions on media day it was clear he possesses the confidence of a grizzled veteran. Yet, the budding enthusiasm of a young player entering his fourth season was also on display. And as my cohort Rylan Stiles tweeted – Shai is JACKED!
From the jump, Shai says he feels “150-percent” and is super excited to get back to playing competitive ball.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says when he felt completely back with no restrictions at all “It was in the mid-summer”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 27, 2021
Regarding the max contract conveyed this summer by the OKC Thunder, while he acknowledges pride and happiness in achieving it SGA chose to focus on the work saying “the job’s not done, work is not done” stating he feels like he’s only accomplished 10 percent of what needs to be done on his bucket list if you will.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says “Take it a day at a time, try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to. That’s had success in my career so far.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 27, 2021
On being the face of the franchise:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on being the face of the franchise if it changes him “Not at all. The guys on this team are all super humble work super hard, don’t deserve to be on a lower pedestal, we are all equal.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 27, 2021
With regards to leadership, he added “I learned last season words only go so far, you need to lead by example if you really want guys to follow.”
What he worked on during the offseason and where fans should expect to see growth:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on his expectations this year “Getting better at everything, I don’t know what exact area, but I do feel like I will be better this year.”
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 27, 2021
SGA also noted he feels faster and stronger but not heavier.
Regarding playing with so many guards on the team and in particular the trio of Josh Giddey and Theo Maledon he reckons back to a time when the Thunder had three point guards who played very well for this organization…
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says “Me, Josh, and Theo will make it work.” Says he trusts them, and they have good intentions. Mentions a three guard lineup has worked in the past with the team.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 27, 2021
His other passion – fashion was raised band his impact culturally in OKC like the leader he is Shai praised his teammates‘ style: “We have a lot of fashionable guys on the team already, I’ll just add to it. Fashion is something outside the court, we bond over it a little bit more. We are all super fashionable.” https://twitter.com/Rylan_Stiles/status/1442531305183485959
Although he did throw a bit of anonymous fashion shade when asked if one teammate needs more help with their fashion/style: “He is already in my head, I just don’t wanna say it, we will keep it a secret.”
Emulating the words of his coach he speaks to being a work in progress but a team who’ll get better each and every day: “every guy that puts on a Thunder Jersey for every day he is in that jersey “gets better every single day.”
No doubt, being sidelined for so long served as inspiration for the point guard, as have some questionable player rankings by various national sites such as ESPN’s top 100, the Athletic’s top 125, and NBA.com’s top 40.
Last season in 35 games SGA averaged 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 33.8 minutes per game. His efficiency was hot all over the court registering 50.8 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from the pereter, and 80.1 percent from the line.