Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t take the Knicks’ title run lightly.
According to his trainer, Nem Ilic, the Oklahoma City Thunder star had a blunt reaction after New York beat the San Antonio Spurs, 4-1, in the NBA Finals. Ilic said Gilgeous-Alexander was frustrated watching the finish unfold after the Thunder had fallen to the Spurs, 4-3, in the Western Conference Finals.
“‘I'm pissed. I can't believe I'm not here right now,'” Ilic said.
We were on vacation right around when Games 1 and 2 started. We watched that together.
But I didn't get that same vibe until the series was actually over. Then it hit him that they lost and New York won the championship.
Shai is not a guy to make excuses. It didn't work out the way he hoped.
But that's part of an NBA season. But you have to be able to deal with those punches, and he didn't.
So he knew that he had to get back to the drawing board and get better again.”
That offseason reset included a focus on Gilgeous-Alexander’s off-ball work, part of an effort to sharpen conditioning and keep the Thunder offense moving more efficiently. Ilic said the playoff loss shaped that approach, especially after the Thunder were also without two other primary ball handlers, J-Dub and Ajay [Mitchell].
“I think just with the playoff time and watching, that was a different scenario. They had lost two of their other primary ball handlers in J-Dub and Ajay [Mitchell],” Ilic said.
“So I just felt like the way that series had gone, it was about being able to have that little extra in the tank to withstand that. Plus, I know it's been a topic with Shai wanting to come off the ball a little bit more this season as well.
So there's a conditioning aspect of him coming off pin-downs, screens or whatever else it is.
“We didn't want that to be a factor, conditioning-wise. So we wanted to work on that a little bit.
It wasn't anything crazy. We'll see how that goes this year.
Then we'll adjust next summer as well.”
Gilgeous-Alexander then gave an early glimpse of the work on Wednesday, finishing his preseason debut with 17 points on 5-for-5 attempts, five assists, three rebounds, and one block in 17 minutes.
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]
Thunder Let A Young Bucks Guard Make A Late Statement
The Thunders preseason trip to Milwaukee ended in a narrow 128-126 loss, but the game also offered a look at how quickly rookie guard Brayden Burries can change a rhythm. Coming off the bench for the Bucks, Burries gave them a useful burst with 16 points, five rebounds, one assist and two steals in 21 minutes, and he was part of the late push that turned a tight exhibition into something worth paying attention to.
For Oklahoma City, the more interesting part may have been how steady the young guard looked when the game tightened. Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins came away impressed with Burries composure against different looks, a notable early-season nod for a rookie still carving out his place. Even in a preseason setting, a performance like that can stick, especially when it comes in the kind of closing minutes that usually separate empty box-score nights from something a little more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]