The OKC Thunder have seen the NBA world bash the franchise throughout this rebuild process. From being called the literal “black eye of the league” to NBA executives, fans, and media whispering to “free Shai Gilgeous-Alexander” from this rebuilding team, and questions of if Sam Presti cares more about future draft picks than building a winner.
For all the screaming voices in the void, shaking their fists, clutching their pearls, the OKC Thunder rebuilt their franchise in just two years. The Oklahoma City Thunder saw a 16-win improvement, leaping up to a 40-42 record last season with a trip to the Play-In tournament.
The OKC Thunder have finally seen NBA executives give up on their pipe dream of trading for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder’s win increase was primarily due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming an absolute superstar and finishing the 2022-23 NBA season with his first All-Star nod, punching his ticket to first-team All-NBA honors, and finishing fifth in MVP voting. Surrounded by one of the best young cores in the NBA, the OKC Thunder seem poised to be content for a long time.
It was once seen as a foregone conclusion that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would demand a trade out of Bricktown; regardless of what the superstar guard said or the max contract extension with no opt-outs he willingly signed, the NBA world continued to beat down Thunder fans with the notion their point guard would quickly want out of Oklahoma City.
NBA Executives No Longer Think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Will Request A Trade https://t.co/Eqcn4DckgX
— RealGM (@RealGM) September 8, 2023
The OKC Thunder have watched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander average 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game while swiping 1.6 steals and a block per game on the defensive end last season. He carried that momentum into the 2023 FIBA World Cup, proving he is a Superstar.
NBA fans, media, and executives have finally let go of the always faulty narrative that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would request a trade away from the OKC Thunder. The same franchise that locked him into a five-year max pact has a mountain of draft picks to build around him and one of the brightest young cores we have seen.