Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasted no time making his preseason debut count.
On Wednesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in their second preseason game, but the result hardly told the full story. OKC got strong showings from some of its newer faces, including Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, yet the sharpest performance belonged to the team’s biggest name.
Gilgeous-Alexander played just 17 minutes, and in that stretch he was flawless. He went 5-for-5 from the field, hit all three of his shots from deep, and knocked down all four free throws. The back-to-back Most Valuable Player didn’t stop there, adding three rebounds, one block, and five assists without a turnover.
That last part stood out just as much as the scoring. Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to keep the ball moving while still controlling the offense is shaping up to be one of the Thunder’s most important strengths this season. Even when defenses load up on him, he keeps the engine humming and creates cleaner chances for everyone else.
That matters for a Thunder team trying to win its second championship in three years. It opens the door for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to get more room to work, while also giving Oklahoma City’s younger players a chance to keep growing around a star who makes the whole group better.
Wednesday was only a preseason game, but Gilgeous-Alexander still made his point. He can score whenever he wants, and he can make sure the players around him are set up to shine, too.
In Other News...
Jalen Williams Gave Thunder Fans An Early Sign They Needed
Jalen Williams gave the Thunder a welcome preseason jolt in his first game action, flashing the kind of rhythm Oklahoma City has been waiting to see after a season interrupted by injuries. In 19 first-half minutes against Milwaukee, he was active from the start in a 128-126 loss, and the mix of scoring, playmaking and defensive activity fit neatly with the bigger picture the Thunder want to build around.
Mark Daigneault liked what he saw from Williams, especially the way he carried himself with confidence and aggression. Oklahoma City now has five days off before facing the Atlanta Hawks, which gives the team a little more time to let that encouraging opening stretch settle in while keeping an eye on whether Williams can keep that same energy going. [Read more 🡒]
Aday Mara Is Giving The Thunder A Reason To Rethink His Role
Aday Mara has already given Oklahoma City a small preseason puzzle to solve. In two games, the rookie has looked polished well beyond the usual early-October evaluation period, showing soft touch, good footwork, solid rebounding and the kind of passing that fits naturally with the Thunders style. Head coach Mark Daigneault has noticed the way Mara can do more than just finish plays, and that matters for a team that values versatility from every spot on the floor.
Bennett Stirtz has also added to the optimism around Oklahoma Citys rookie class, bringing scoring and defensive activity to the mix. But Mara is the one creating the more interesting conversation, because his playmaking hints at a role that could stretch beyond what people expected when camp opened. The Thunder do not have to decide anything right now, yet his early preseason work is starting to raise the question of how much more they might be able to get out of him. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Took OKCs Playoff Exit Harder Than Fans Knew
Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders response to Oklahoma Citys playoff exit apparently lingered well beyond the spring, according to trainer Nem Ilic, who said the Thunder guard took the Knicks championship run as a reminder of what was left on the table. The backdrop was OKCs loss in the Western Conference finals, a finish that clearly sat heavy enough to shape how Gilgeous-Alexander approached the months that followed.
Ilic said the offseason became a work period aimed at sharpening conditioning and making Gilgeous-Alexander more comfortable operating off the ball, a sign the Thunder star is still searching for ways to raise his ceiling. He offered a quick preview of that next step in his preseason debut, when he scored 17 points in 17 minutes, and the early return suggests the same frustration that followed the playoff exit may have fueled the work. [Read more 🡒]