The Oklahoma City Thunder are already into training camp for the 2026-27 season, and one of the clearest early themes is what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might look like with more work away from the ball.
That idea has been hanging over the offseason for good reason. The reigning two-time MVP has been exploring ways to round out his game, and this summer included a notable stop with Team Canada. On the first day of practice ahead of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, he asked to play off the ball with the group.
“Every season, and every off-season, I use it to try to find ways to become a more well-rounded basketball player,” Gilgeous-Alexander explained when asked about that decision.
He expanded on that approach by putting off-ball work in the same bucket as other parts of his development.
“[Playing Off-Ball] was just an area of the game where I felt like I could be a better basketball player. And some summers, it's defense; some summers, it's off-the-dribble shooting; some summers, it's posting up.
And yeah, nothing more than that. Just try to become the best basketball player I can be when it's all said and done,” Gilgeous-Alexander explained,” Gilgeous-Alexander continued.
That framing is what makes this offseason worth watching. He’s treated off-ball offense like one more skill to sharpen, the same way he has attacked other parts of his game.
After Monday’s Media Day, the Thunder got back to work on Tuesday for the first day of camp. And once the rest of the roster had wrapped up its usual post-practice routine and headed for the locker room, Gilgeous-Alexander was still on the floor.
He wasn’t alone. Jared McCain stayed with him, and the two worked through off-ball scoring drills well after the main session had ended.
That kind of extra work isn’t unusual for Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s often the last player still getting shots up at the Thunder facility while reporters turn their questions toward his teammates on the other side of the gym. What stood out here was the specific focus: off-ball scoring, over and over, with McCain.
It’s another sign that this part of his game is being taken seriously heading into a season that begins on Oct. 20, when the Thunder open with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
In Other News...
Thunder Starting Guard Battle Carries One Big Question For Shai
The Thunder head into camp with a familiar kind of puzzle, only this one sits right next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt. Lu Dorts offseason departure opened up the starting shooting guard spot, and Oklahoma City has been treating it like a real competition rather than a ceremonial handoff. It is the sort of decision that can shape the early rhythm of the season, especially for a team that values fit, pace and defensive balance as much as raw talent.
Mark Daigneault has kept the door open while the staff works through different looks in training camp and preseason. For Shai, the question is less about who can score and more about who can make the pairing feel seamless from the jump. The Thunder have time to sort it out, but the longer the battle stretches, the more it becomes one of the quieter but more important decisions on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Could Be Eyeing Another Low Cost Trade Swing
The Thunder have already shown they are willing to take a smart swing on a young player with room to grow, and the Jared McCain deal is the kind of move that keeps their front office in the conversation when another opportunity pops up. This latest one centers on Dalton Knecht, whose name is surfacing as the Lakers get closer to trimming their roster and reshaping the end of the bench.
From Oklahoma Citys side, the appeal is obvious enough to follow the breadcrumbs. The Thunder have an open roster spot, plenty of draft capital and the kind of salary cap flexibility that can make a low-cost deal easier to navigate, while Knechts rookie contract adds longer-term appeal for a team that likes to keep optionality in play. Whether the Lakers actually move him soon is the unresolved piece, but OKC has the profile of a team ready to pounce if he does become available. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Big Man Depth Could Decide How Far This Team Goes
The Thunders frontcourt picture has become one of the more interesting parts of their rise, with the double-big look of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein giving Oklahoma City a different kind of edge. After leaning into that alignment, the team has added more size to the mix with Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber, signaling that the big man rotation is not just a present-day strength but an area they expect to keep shaping.
For a team that already likes the balance Holmgren and Hartenstein bring, the next step is figuring out how the newer pieces fit without slowing the development curve. Hartenstein has made clear he is willing to help guide Mara as he gets comfortable, which only adds to the sense that Oklahoma City sees this as more than depth for depths sake. How quickly that group comes together could end up mattering a lot when the games get bigger. [Read more 🡒]