Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder to NBA Finals success after securing a commanding 124-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on May 28, 2025. This achievement places Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, fueled by SGA’s standout performance and a strong team effort aiming to capture the franchise’s elusive championship.
SGA’s MVP-Winning Performance Propels Thunder Into Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant 34-point outing against the Timberwolves sealed Oklahoma City’s passage to the Finals, where they await the winner of the Eastern Conference series between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. Over the five-game series, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 points on 45.7 percent shooting, with 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. His stellar play earned him every media vote for the 2025 Western Conference Finals MVP award.
Speaking at the MVP trophy presentation, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed cautious optimism:
“We’ve got a lot of growing to do,”
he said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal, and this is not it, so that’s all that I’m focused on.”
—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder star
Oklahoma City’s New Era Fueled by SGA’s Leadership and Vision
SGA has emerged as a true franchise cornerstone after long overshadowed predecessors who failed to deliver a world championship for Oklahoma City. Kevin Durant left for Golden State and won titles with Stephen Curry, while James Harden was traded prematurely, cutting short the most promising young super-trio the franchise ever had.
The 26-year-old guard from Toronto has brought new hope by capturing the MVP award over Nikola Jokic and guiding the Thunder to the best regular-season record in the NBA. His calm leadership, relentless work ethic, and team-first mentality contrast sharply with the Big Three era, marking a new chapter in OKC’s history.
SGA shared his personal reflection on this milestone:
“I never thought this was going to happen,”
he admitted.
“I dreamt about it as a kid, but you know as a kid it’s a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it’s hard to not freak out. It’s hard to not be a 6-year-old kid again, and I think that’s what’s allowed me to achieve it. I try to not focus on it and just worry about what’s got me to this place, which is just working hard and taking it day by day and trusting the people around me and trusting the things that I’ve done to get me to this place.”
—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Building Toward A Championship: The Role of Sam Presti and the Thunder’s Evolution
General manager Sam Presti has been the steady presence through multiple Thunder eras, including the Seattle SuperSonics days, the Durant-Westbrook-Harden trio, and now the Daigneault-Holmgren-Gilgeous-Alexander era. The franchise’s last NBA Finals appearance in 2012 ended in a 4-1 loss to the Miami Heat’s legendary trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Since then, Presti has meticulously rebuilt the team with an eye on creating a contender. The current Thunder squad boasts the best fan support the franchise has seen since Durant’s early years, turning Oklahoma City into a formidable home-court advantage once again.
SGA acknowledged the importance of winning above all else:
“The way I see it, everything is left,”
he reflected.
“When I picked up a basketball when I was nine years old, playing AAU, I never sat there like, ‘I want to be an All-Star, I want to be an MVP.’ I sat there like, ‘I want to win this tournament.’ Winning is everything. If you don’t win, none of it matters. That’s just how I see the game. That’s how I see competition in general. You pick up the ball to play and win. That’s what I’m after, winning as many times as I possibly can.”
—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Context of Past Stars and Current Opportunity
Much of Oklahoma City’s frustration comes from star players who left without securing a title. Kevin Durant, despite earning $447 million in career earnings and multiple Olympic gold medals, departed early and has yet to reach a stable franchise fit. James Harden, a historic scorer worth $372 million in earnings, also never captured an NBA title and was traded before his full potential in Oklahoma City could be realized.
Russell Westbrook, once an MVP and triple-double phenomenon, has seen his influence diminish as a veteran role player shooting below 40 percent in recent playoffs. Their combined $1.1 billion in earnings during their Thunder tenure contrasts with zero championships, underscoring the franchise’s long-standing challenge to convert talent into ultimate success.
In contrast, Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates appear ready to change this narrative, as the Thunder push through to the Finals and carry the hopes of a passionate, hungry fanbase.
Potential NBA Finals Matchup and What’s Next for the Thunder
Oklahoma City will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals series between Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, with Indiana currently leading 3-1. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday in New York City, setting up a crucial battle for the final spot in the championship round.
Should the Thunder secure four more playoff wins, Gilgeous-Alexander, once dismissed by the Los Angeles Clippers in what has been labeled the “worst deal ever,” will be heralded as the greatest player in Oklahoma City history. This achievement would rewrite the franchise legacy and finally bring the championship glory that has long eluded the Thunder.
Oklahoma City’s rise under Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership represents a hopeful turning point, infusing new energy and belief into a small-market team that has consistently punched above its weight. The coming Finals series will test their resolve and determine if this promising squad can deliver the long-awaited NBA title to its loyal supporters.