The Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up a 3-0 week last week with two wins over the L.A. Clippers at the Paycom Center and a gritty road win in overtime at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. That got the OKC Thunder back to .500 on the year thanks to a huge week from max contract point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are dealing with injuries right now with Chet Holmgren out for the entire year with a foot injury, Jalen Willimas being out for two of the three games, and Josh Giddey missing the week with an ankle injury. Still, Mark Daigneault’s squad was able to scratch together some impressive wins.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was tabbed as the Western Conference Player of the Week award for the first time this season, in just the second week of the NBA season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been electric so far this season, and he went to another level this week. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged nearly 32 points (31.7), eight assists (7.7), and five rebounds for the week to lift the Thunder past the Clippers and Mavericks which was good enough to earn Western Conference Player of the Week honors.
The fifth-year point guard earned player of the week honors last year as well after a scorching week in mid-December.
The 24-year-old is well on his way to his first NBA All-Star appearance which even he admits should be driven by team success. With OKC at or hovering around .500 by the time All-Star voting ends, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 31 points, five rebounds, and seven assists per game on 49 percent shooting from the floor, 36 percent from deep, and 100 percent at the free throw line, it will be hard to deny SGA an All-Star nod.
In the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo was named Player of the Week, averaging 35 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists per game in a 3-0 week for the Bucks.
Other Western Conference Nominees were Memphis’ Desmond Bane, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Dallas’ Luka Doncic, and San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson. There is a real shot that Saturday’s win over Luka Doncic’s Mavs tipped the scale in favor of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
This week, the Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to defend his Western Conference Player of the Week title.
Do you think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on his way to his first NBA All-Star appearance?