Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder looked like a team that couldn’t be beaten at the start of the season, suffering their first loss only after 25 games. Some even thought they were on the same level as the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. However, things have gone downhill for them. Their biggest loss has been MVP who is sidelined due to an abdominal strain.
The Thunder no longer have the best record in the league, losing that spot to the Detroit Pistons. One reason for this is their 5-5 record in their last 10 games.
Coach Mark Daigneault recently said he is unbothered by their poor performances over the past two weeks. In fact, he believes they are in a good place because his players are responding well to adversity.
That’s how SGA feels as well.
“The regular season is not always going to go your way every night. You have 82 games. You got to use it to get better at the end of the day, whether that’s your body, whether that’s your mental, whether it’s your skills, it’s your team chemistry,” he said via Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire.
“You want to be a better team at the end of the season than you want to begin the season. We did that last year and gave ourselves the best shot to win NBA championship, and we did. So this year, we feel like we’re on that right track.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s return
SGA has already missed five games and also sat out the All-Star Game, where he was supposed to play for Team World. He was replaced by Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets.
These absences are precautionary, as he is still recovering from the injury. Previous reports said he is expected to return after the All-Star break.
NBA insider Shams Charania said SGA is set to face another evaluation before getting the green light to return.
OKC are 2-3 in the games he missed although they are still atop the Western Conference standings. They are two games above no. 2 San Antonio Spurs.
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