SGA(Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) has had a season to remember this year. After the loss against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Finals this year, SGA was on the cusp of joining an elite group of players. Following the loss in Game 1, the Oklahoma City Thunder star only needed two points to become the 12th player to reach 3,000 points for a single season. That list of players has some Hall-of-Famers on it, both past and future. The question for SGA becomes, can he lead his team to victory this season and be crowned a champion?
It’s been a year to remember for SGA and the Oklahoma City Thunder
At the beginning of the season, the Thunder were the favorites to win it all as they were the top-seeded team in the NBA. They would go on to prove that seeding was correct, as all year long, they produced championship-winning performances, led by their star, SGA. In the 2023-24 season, SGA led the Thunder to the playoffs before being knocked out by the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
This year, however, has proven to be very different. The Thunder displayed their incredible defense this season, and that defense, along with the iconic performances from SGA, has led them to the promised land of the NBA Finals. SGA has been the leader of the team that is dominated by young players who have massive potential, such as third-year players Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
SGA is proving to have the best year of his career so far this season. The Canadian superstar has already snatched up the regular season MVP award, and if his performances continue, we can see SGA being a serious contender for the Finals MVP as well. Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers might have something to say about that, however.
SGA is in fine company with this new record-breaking season
The opening game of this year’s NBA Finals was a tense affair. The fans in Oklahoma were watching two teams that were not playing at their best. The cagey game was dominated by mistakes and turnovers on both sides. The Thunder never looked in control, and after a comeback by the Pacers in the third and fourth quarters, they would ultimately lose game 1 after the last-second heroics of Tyrese Haliburton.
Game 2 was back to normal for the Thunder. After settling some nerves, the Thunder would go on to show the kind of defense and team unity that got them to the Finals this year. By scoring a mid-range shot with 8:24 left in the opening quarter, SGA became only the 12th player in NBA history to score 3,000 points in a single season. That’s 3,000 points over the regular season, postseason, and playoffs combined.
SGA joins legends of the game such as Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain in the 3,000 points list. The longevity of his career is going to serve SGA well if he can take care of his body, as he is still relatively young at 26 years of age. He also became only the fourth player in history to score 3,000 points and amount 600 assists in a single season.
Can SGA lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to glory this year?
As the Finals are in full swing, the focus for SGA and his teammates needs to be on finishing the job. It would prove disastrous if they were to fail at the final step before becoming champions. As with most small-market teams, they are intensely focused on the future and their possible draft picks as well as the record-breaking season they are having at the moment. The Thunder have garnered a reputation as a club that looks to strengthen its entire infrastructure for the future. A Championship ring and Finals MVP could surely help with that.
