OKC Thunder players take home individual honors at World Cup

The Oklahoma City Thunder were well represented at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, sending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jack White, and Davis Bertans to the event. The young core of the OKC Thunder was on full display. From Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams stealing headlines at Team USA training camp to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey dominating FIBA World Cup tournament games.

The OKC Thunder grabbed hold of a few NBA honors a season ago. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his first All-Star and All-NBA teams and finished runner-up for the Most Improved Player award while being tabbed fifth in MVP voting. Mark Daigneault was voted runner-up for the Coach of the Year award, Jalen Williams was runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award, and both Williams and Giddey participated in the Rising Stars challenge.

The OKC Thunder grab individual honors at the 2023 FIBA World Cup as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey continue to impress.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped lead Team Canada to a third-place finish, earning a medal for the first time in the FIBA World Cup tournament. Josh Giddey lifted Team Australia to a tenth-place finish, and the OKC Thunder duo grabbed hold of FIBA honors.

Josh Giddey made his FIBA World Cup debut and bagged the first-ever Rising Star award with 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game. Giddey made strides as a rim-finisher and got to the free-throw line six times a night.

The OKC Thunder also saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander get tabbed to the All-Star squad. The max contract point guard was the best player on the floor this Summer on his way to averaging 21 points, nearly five assists, and four rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor, 30 percent from the three-point line,, and 88 percent at the charity stripe.

Lu Dort was able to wall up defensively for the Canadians to help extend their tournament run, Jack White provided energy for the Boomers, and Davis Bertans’ three-point stroke triggered multiple Latvian upset victories.

If this Summer teaser showed OKC Thunder fans anything, it is how exciting the 2023-24 NBA season will be. The Thunder have one of the best players in the world, a great young core, and a lot of depth for Mark Daigneault to flip through.