The OKC Thunder proved to be the fourth-best scoring and third-best overall offensive team the league had to offer last season.
Now, while accomplishing such statuses was the result of a full-on collective effort, leading the charge on this side of the ball was the magnificent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The reigning Finals and league-wide MVP led the association in points per game in 2024-25 at 32.7 while boasting shooting splits of 51.9/ 37.5/ 89.8 and became the first player since Michael Jordan to drop at least 30.0 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting in three consecutive seasons.
Without question, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of, if not the most effective scoring weapon the game currently has to offer, and is expected to continue being so during Oklahoma City's forthcoming title-defending campaign.
However, following Thursday's practice, the superstar guard was publicly challenged by coach Mark Daigneault to improve his game in another area of play, and, specifically, while running alongside one particular teammate.
Thunder covet Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein pick-and-roll
It's hard to pinpoint a particular area of play Gilgeous-Alexander lacks.
Of course, at least when it comes to coach Daigneault's hopes for the upcoming season, he's stressing more involvement in the pick-and-roll with the 27-year-old All-Star and his frontcourt running mate, Isaiah Hartenstein.
While talking to reporters, the renowned headman mentioned that improvements are "necessary" heading into 2025-26, especially considering that a bevy of clubs around the league, particularly in their own conference, have bolstered their arsenals as they try to dethrone the champs.
When asked where he would like to see his Thunder team improve the most in 2025-26, Daigneault pointed to the P&R of SGA and I-Hart.
"We've got to go deeper on the things that are most important. An example would be the pick-and-roll relationship between Shai and Isaiah Hartenstein. It was really good last year, [but] there's room for improvement in terms of them learning each other," Daigneault said.
Last season, the Thunder were one of the most pick-and-roll-heavy offenses in the league, as they ranked seventh in frequency (17.7), second in both points per game (19.3) and field goal percentage (47.3), and fifth in percentile (86.2).
Gilgeous-Alexander, specifically, was also one of the best handlers in such play types, as he ranked second in points per game in the P&R (10.6) and registered a percentile of 94.4.
However, Hartenstein's usage in this aspect of the game was quite lacking, as he ranked in just the 56.7 percentile. What's encouraging is the fact that he was rather effective when utilized as a roll man, as he averaged 3.1 points (tied with All-Star Bam Adebayo) while sporting a field goal percentage of 62.7.
Now heading into year two as a tandem and with health hopefully on their side (particularly Hartenstein), coach Daigneault is suggesting that he's looking to take more advantage of the big man's efficiency as a roller by pairing him alongside the clearly elite handler in Gilgeous-Alexander.