Once labeled a “quiet role player” coming out of Kentucky, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially silenced every doubter — and shaken the NBA to its core.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by the seemingly unstoppable Gilgeous-Alexander, have stormed their way into the **2025 NBA Finals**, and the basketball world is struggling to keep up with the shocking rise of both the team and its superstar.
Averaging a scorching **29.3 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds** this postseason, SGA has not just *led* — he’s *dominated*. His clutch performances in the Western Conference Finals, especially his 44-point outburst in Game 6 against the Nuggets, left fans, analysts, and even opponents speechless.
> “This is Shai’s league now,” former NBA MVP Kevin Garnett said on *NBA on TNT*. “People slept on him. They better wake up.”
A Long Journey to the Top
Drafted 11th overall in 2018 and traded on draft night, Gilgeous-Alexander’s path to superstardom has been anything but conventional. While some early-career flashes earned him praise, few could’ve predicted this level of dominance — especially after years of rebuilding in OKC.
Now? He’s the face of a Finals-bound squad and the clear alpha on one of the youngest, most exciting rosters in the league.
> “They doubted him at Kentucky. They doubted him in L.A. They doubted him in OKC,” said one fan on X. “Now he’s four wins away from an NBA title. Who’s laughing now?”
Kentucky Pride Runs Deep
Back in Lexington, Wildcat Nation is beaming with pride. Gilgeous-Alexander, once a humble freshman playing behind bigger names, has become one of the greatest Kentucky products in the league today — joining the likes of Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Jamal Murray in NBA Finals lore.
John Calipari, who coached SGA during his lone college season, reacted on social media:
> “Shai always had the IQ, the poise, and the drive. Now the world’s seeing it. Couldn’t be prouder.”
The Finals Await
With the Finals tipping off this week against the Boston Celtics, all eyes are on SGA. Can he carry the Thunder to their first championship since 1979 (when they were still the Seattle SuperSonics)? Or will the pressure of the big stage be too much?
One thing is certain: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is no longer overlooked. He’s here, and the league has officially been put on notice.
Stay with CourtSide Report for full Finals coverage, interviews, and in-depth analysis.
