After a promising season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, it cannot be denied that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves a lot of praise with the way he has played this season, leading them to greater heights that no one ever expected them to pull off after a long rebuild that put OKC as the black eye of the league.

When the season began, OKC was slated to be another team that would rest in the depths of the highly competitive Western Conference, tanking for yet another high draft pick. Instead, OKC turned up its engines led by Gilgeous-Alexander, leading the Thunder to a massive climb to the top with a promising string of performances, earning the runner-up spot in the MVP race.

Oklahoma City, despite losing a golden chance to secure a deeper playoff run, is still way ahead of its schedule, where they have thrived as one of the best teams in the league in such a wild Western Conference. SGA’s growth and development have played a huge role in OKC’s success, and this has definitely accelerated what could’ve been a long rebuild for many other teams in the league.

Does Gilgeous-Alexander deserve to be placed as the top-3 best player of the 2023-24 season? It’s an understatement.

A Breakout Season for SGA

Oklahoma City has enjoyed a massive boost thanks to SGA’s antics this season. He has been named to the All-Star squad for the second straight year, first as a starter. Many have wondered what his ceiling has been with the Thunder at this point, but with averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, he has become a two-way star who has what it takes to win big.

The Canadian superstar finished second in the MVP voting, earning 15 first-place votes at most. His record of 51 games (a new Thunder record) with at least 30+ points has lifted OKC to a 57-25 record – the best in the West. He also has a string of game-winners this season, and it cannot be denied that his massive performances this season has helped accelerate OKC’s road to the playoff stage.

The Thunder, for the first time since the 2012-13 season, finished as the first seed in the West, and the first time they have won more than 50+ games since the 2015-16 season – which happens to be the last campaign of the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook era of the Thunder.

A Thunderous Campaign Brewing

OKC is slated to have an enjoyable offseason now more than ever, and it cannot be denied that the team will have a lot of work to do to supplant Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise. After all, that series against the Mavericks left a poor taste in the Thunder star’s mouth, especially when it was his foul on the three-point attempt by PJ Washington that sealed their fate.

Still, OKC has a long way to go. There’s the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, some crazy signings rumored to be made in the free agency market. However, the ultimate development for OKC’s hopes would be resting on Gilgeous-Alexander’s further growth in the offseason, where he can stay on his consistent work ethic and keep the same pace he has had in the previous campaign.

A Chance to Shine on the International Stage

Speaking of the offseason, the Olympics is slated to take place in just less a month, and Team Canada has officially released its updated roster, with Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm of the team. He is also slated to play with teammate Luguentz Dort, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, as well as his cousin, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

SGA has been a menace on the international stage. In the 2023 World Cup, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 26.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. That comes along with his efficient brand of shooting with 55.6% from the field and 47.4% from three.

If fans are expecting to see a masterclass from Gilgeous-Alexander, they won’t have to wait long considering that the Olympics will have him carry the load for Team Canada as much as he did with Oklahoma City.