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At this point, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have become synonymous with each other. The NBA superstar and NBA franchise have been tied to the hip over the last seven years. His improbable ascension into all-time greatness helped bring home their first Larry O'Brien trophy.
Like Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors, the NBA's best guards ever usually stick with one team. That's part of their basketball lore. Gilgeous-Alexander is next up in line to join that lineage as one of the faces of the NBA in the 2020s.
After the Thunder acquired Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2019 Paul George blockbuster deal, he slowly worked his way up the basketball hierarchy. It didn't take long for him to go from an intriguing lottery prospect to a walking 30-point machine. The two-time MVP winner and one-time NBA champion already has a Hall-of-Fame career.
If Gilgeous-Alexander wins more rings and trophies, he'll further strengthen his case as an all-time great. The best spot to do that in? OKC. There's a reason why he took little time to re-up with them after their NBA championship celebration last summer. He's set to soon start a four-year, $285 million supermax extension that keeps him on the Thunder through the 2030-31 season — when he'll be 32 years old.
According to Gilgeous-Alexander's father — Vaughn Alexander — expect him to remain in OKC for the rest of his playing days. Further cementing his spot as the best and greatest player in Thunder history. Sorry, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
In a recent podcast episode, Alexander broke down why he doesn't see his son going anywhere else anytime soon. Playing for a big-time market really isn't Gilgeous-Alexander's style. And neither is returning home to play for the Toronto Raptors, apparently.
"Shai is perfect where he is in OKC. I don’t think he will ever leave unless politics or something happens," Alexander said. "You know how the NBA works. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
Don't think there has ever really been any concern that Gilgeous-Alexander would jump ship. As long as the Thunder remain a title contender, he has zero incentive to leave. So far, they've equipped him with rosters that have been deep enough to win one NBA championship and almost win another.
Can't think of a better NBA utopia to join than the Thunder right now. And Gilgeous-Alexander's own blood sees that.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Why this 1 family member can't see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leaving OKC
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