Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Returns to LA as an MVP, Champion - and Reminder of a Franchise-Altering Trade
There’s something poetic about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepping back into Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend - not just as a participant, but as a reigning MVP and NBA champion. The same city where his NBA journey began, albeit briefly, is now hosting the league’s brightest stars at the Clippers’ gleaming new Intuit Dome. And while the venue may be different, the stakes - and the storylines - are as rich as ever.
Gilgeous-Alexander, now 27, is far removed from his rookie season with the Clippers. That one-year stint in LA feels like a distant memory, even to him.
“It was so long ago and the arena is so different. It doesn’t really feel like I play here,” he said during All-Star Media Day.
“When we play against them, the fans are always great. I love the wall.
It’s dope. The city of LA has always been good to me.”
But let’s be clear - the echoes of that 2019 blockbuster trade still reverberate across the league. The Clippers went all-in, sending a massive haul to Oklahoma City in exchange for Paul George.
That deal, which included Gilgeous-Alexander and a treasure chest of draft picks, was supposed to fast-track LA’s title hopes. Instead, it’s become one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory - the NBA’s modern-day Herschel Walker deal.
Since arriving in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t just developed - he’s exploded. He’s become the face of the franchise, a two-way force who now owns both an MVP trophy and a championship ring.
And while the Thunder have already come out on top in that trade, they’re not done yet. Sitting atop the NBA standings heading into the All-Star break, OKC looks poised for another deep playoff run - and perhaps another Larry O’Brien trophy.
That’s the part that stings for Clippers fans. While LA prepares to finally regain full control of its first-round picks after years of draft-night silence, the Thunder are thriving with the very player they once let go. Gilgeous-Alexander has become the centerpiece of a team that’s built smart, played hard, and stayed patient - a blueprint that’s paying off in a big way.
For SGA, the return to LA is less about revenge and more about reflection. He’s not the same wide-eyed rookie who once wore Clippers blue - he’s a polished superstar, a leader, and a player with his eyes set on legacy.
“The city of LA has always been good to me,” he said, and you can sense the appreciation in his tone. But make no mistake - his heart, his future, and his greatness are all tied to Oklahoma City.
Seven years after that franchise-altering trade, the Thunder are still collecting dividends. And with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, they’re not just winning games - they’re rewriting the narrative of what team-building in the modern NBA can look like.