Shay won the championship! Known as the successor of Jabbar Duncan, is the Thunder Dynasty coming?

When the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the 2025 NBA Finals and held that golden championship trophy, all the spotlight was focused on one person - Shay Gilgers-Alexander. The Canadian defender was not only awarded the Finals' Most Valuable Player, but was also compared with historical legends Jabbar and Tim Duncan by famous sports commentator Colin Coherder. For a moment, the discussion about this young super giant exploded in the basketball circle.

The King of Rising from Reconstruction Ruins Remember that summer of 2019? When Paul George and Russell Westbrook left the team one after another, the Thunder seemed to fall from the championship team to the abyss of reconstruction overnight. At that time, the fans were mixed with feelings in Oklahoma City and didn’t know when this team would rise again.

However, the gears of fate began to rotate. In that shocking trade, the Thunder got the then-slightly young Shai Gilgers-Alexander. Who would have thought that this seemingly ordinary young man would grow into a top superstar in the league in just a few years?

Shay broke out completely in the 2024-25 season. Comprehensive data of 28.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists per game, and a true shooting percentage of up to 59.8%, made him not only selected as the All-Star starting lineup, but also a strong contender for the most valuable players in the regular season. What's even more amazing is that he led the Thunder to a stunning record of 68 wins and 14 losses, which is the best regular season performance in the team's history.

On the playoff stage, Shay showed his superstar style. Faced with the repeated challenges of powerful enemies in the West, he can always stand up at critical moments. Especially in the seventh life-and-death battle in the finals, when the Pacers chased the score to a tie, Shai's score for three consecutive rounds completely killed the suspense of the game. That calmness and calmness reminds people of the great enders in history.

Great in the Ordinary: Amazingly similar to the legend

"If you look back at Jabbar's Tian Gou and Duncan's basic skills, you will find that many great players in history are actually 'boring'," Kauheard commented on the show, "They have mastered their skills and are frustratingly perfect. When you watch Shay play, it's this feeling--you know what he wants to do, but you just can't defend it. "

This remark reveals the essence of Shay's game style. Unlike the stars who rely on explosive power and gorgeous action to conquer the audience, Shai’s basketball is more of a sophisticated art. He did not have earth-shaking dunks, nor did he have fancy dribbling skills, but every move was so accurate that it was outrageous, and every breakthrough was just right.

Just like Kareem Kareem's sky hook, Shai's mid-range shot was almost unsolvable. This season, his shooting percentage in mid-range is as high as 52.3%, which is simply a terrifying existence in modern basketball. What's even more terrifying is that his choice of attack is extremely smart and there are few unreasonable strong shots. As the guest of the show Timf said: "Shai lacks the explosive power in the vertical direction, but like Duncan, although he does not have that overwhelming visual impact, he is surgically accurate and effective. This greatness of "simple appearance" is precisely the most difficult to defend. The opponent knew what he was going to do, but could not stop him from doing it. Isn’t this the secret of Jabbar and Duncan’s rule over the league for many years?

The arrival of the new era of Thunder

The winning of the championship is just the beginning, not the end. According to ESPN, Shay is eligible to sign a super max contract worth $293.4 million this summer, which will make him one of the highest-paid players in the league. For the Thunder, the investment is undoubtedly worth it.

What's even more exciting is that the Thunder's core lineup is extremely young. Although Chet Homgren suffered from injuries in the playoffs, his talent and potential are obvious to all. Jaren Williams' outstanding performance in the finals makes people see the depth and future of this team.

"We still have 11 first-round picks," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said with a smile at a press conference after winning the championship. This sentence sounds like a joke, but it truly reflects the team's horror background. In the salary cap era, having so many draft picks means unlimited possibilities.

More importantly, the chemistry of this team has formed. From Alex Caruso's veteran experience to Isaiah Hartenstein's inside frame guard, everyone plays a big role in their own position. This team basketball concept is an essential element for modern NBA championships. The profound impact of

on the league structure

Shai's success is not only an individual victory, but also an important node in the evolution of NBA tactics. Today, when the small ball era is gradually declining, his success proves the return of the value of traditional center position and mid-range shooting. This more focused on technology and efficiency may indicate that the league is about to enter a new tactical era.

For young players, Shay's growth trajectory is a perfect role model. He did not have the physical conditions of being gifted, nor was he known as a genius since childhood, but through unremitting efforts and correct development paths, he finally reached the peak of basketball. Such stories are more inspiring than the success of those talented players.

From a technical perspective, Shai's playing style also provides new ideas for other players. In this era of pursuing speed and 3-pointers, he redefined the role of a shooting guard with mid-range shooting and rhythm control. This concept of returning to basic skills may affect the development direction of a whole generation of young players.

Written at the end: The greatness born in the ordinary

When Shay Gilgers-Alexander lifted the heavy championship trophy, he not only brought a long-lost glory to Oklahoma City, but also redefined what it means to "greatness in the ordinary ". He has no earth-shaking physical talent, nor his gorgeous and dazzling game style, but he conquered the entire league with extremely accurate skills and calm and composed mentality.

As Coached said, the greatest players in history often have one thing in common - they master their skills and take them to the extreme. Jabbar's Tiange, Duncan's basic skills, is now Shay's turn to mid-distance and rhythm control. This seemingly "boring" basketball is the hardest to imitate and defend.

As Shay and the Thunder enter a new era, the pattern of the entire league will change. This young team not only has the present, but also has the future. While other teams are still fighting for a championship, the Thunder are already making arrangements to establish a dynasty.

This is the revelation that Shay Gilgers-Alexander brings to us: true greatness is often hidden under the most ordinary appearance. And when this greatness is fully released, its power is enough to change the entire world.