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The calendar has flipped to August. Which means we're in the annual drought in the NBA's year-round calendar. Don't expect much to happen over the next couple of months. Teams across the league are in vacation mode and just waiting for the 2026-27 season to start.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell short of a second NBA championship, but remain in the meat of the title conversation. Bringing back mostly the same crew, expect them to be one of the league's top teams for a fourth straight year.
To prepare for the 2026-27 regular season, Thunder Wire will lay out three goals for all 17 players on the roster. OKC has 14 standard players and three two-way players. Let's look at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and what he could accomplish this upcoming year:
Stay in MVP hunt
Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as an all-time great with two consecutive MVP awards. One makes you special. A second puts you in even rarer company. Now, asking him to win a third is a little unfair. Only three players have won the prestigious award three straight times — Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird. All in the 20th century, too. So expecting the 28-year-old to buck that trend is a Herculean task nobody in the modern NBA can do.
But staying in the hunt? That's completely possible. Look, Gilgeous-Alexander likely won't win another MVP. Not because his play has taken a step back, but because voters will likely recognize other all-time greats deserve their moment in the sun. If I had to guess, I bet Victor Wembanyama brings home the trophy. That said, as long as he stays in the conversation and is a finalist, he'll continue to add bullet points to his legendary resume.
Another 30-point campaign
Speaking of doing things that haven't been done since the last century, I think this one is a little more feasible. Gilgeous-Alexander could join Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to have five consecutive 30-point campaigns. Both of those did it for seven straight years. Right now, he's at four. In those four years, he's averaged 31.3 points on 52.9% shooting. Wow. I mean, the numbers speak for themselves. He's one of the best scorers basketball has ever seen.
Let's see if Gilgeous-Alexander can continue to be a walking 30-point bucket. Right now, he has the NBA record for the longest consecutive 20-point streak in league history. If he can have another year when his average is over 30 points, then he continues to add to his case to be the best scorer in the modern NBA. The combination of high-scoring numbers plus big-man-esque efficiency has broken most folks' minds to comprehend.
Win another ring
Probably the tallest task of them all. Gilgeous-Alexander already crossed this off his to-do list with the 2025 NBA championship. But one ring makes you memorable. A second turns you legendary. The Thunder almost did that with back-to-back titles last year. But alas, injuries finally caught up to them. They finished five wins shy of a second Larry O'Brien trophy. Bringing back mostly the same roster, OKC is the co-title favorite. Alongside the San Antonio Spurs.
Let's see if Gilgeous-Alexander can avenge last year's shortcomings. Better health luck should help with that. Jalen Williams seldom played last year. You can't win big time without your second-best player. Amazing that the Thunder even forced a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals with him being mostly absent. Right now, OKC is smack-dab in the middle of its title window. Every year is a golden opportunity to win a championship. The 28-year-old is still at the peak of his powers, but we're reaching the point that we gotta be cognizant of the clock.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder 3 goals: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander must focus on 2nd ring
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