All summer long, everyone was fixated on the reports that OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had been working on his off-ball offensive game.
To many, adding and mastering this attribute would make the guard even more unpredictable to opposing defenses.
However, in these early days of training camp, it seems SGA is showing flashes of improvement in a specific area that not many were expecting to see.
On Tuesday, a clip surfaced showing Gilgeous-Alexander and fellow Thunder guard Jared McCain running sprints against each other on the sidelines. While such drills are painfully common in virtually any sport, what's notable about this footage is that Shai is seen absolutely dusting McCain and finishing many lengths ahead.
Though he's certainly already widely revered for his athletic prowess, the Thunder cornerstone isn't someone who's generally celebrated for his on-court quickness. Last season, he placed a lowly 287 in pace of play at 101.84. McCain, meanwhile, finished 67 slots ahead of him in this particular category.
Now, while this may be seen as just one mere video from an early camp practice, it's hard not to get excited over the idea of SGA potentially adding more speed to his on-court repertoire.
Thunder guards have been working hard with one another this offseason
This clip of Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain running drills is just the latest example of the two putting in work alongside each other.
All throughout the offseason, the two Thunder guards were regularly seen together, both on the hardwood and doing exercises on outside terrain.
McCain even made sure to note during his media day presser that he spent "a lot of time this summer" training with his Thunder running mates, specifically noting how he even ventured out to Canada to workout with Shai over the last few months.
To McCain, the goal of putting in the effort to participate in such activities is to build stronger relationships and to improve chemistry with his teammates, which, in his eyes, has been an "awesome" experience.
While it may not have been all that obvious considering how well he played last season, particularly in the playoffs, the two guard is still rather new on this Thunder team, as he only arrived in the Sooner State last February ahead of the trade deadline.
Clearly, he was able to develop chemistry rather quickly with his teammates in only a matter of months during last year's campaign. Now, heading into his first full season with the club, it's clear he's actively working to strengthen the bonds he's already made.
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