3 reasons why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder are still the team to beat in the West despite NBA Cup loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder lost the 2024 NBA Cup Finals, 97-81, to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. The loss has led fans and some analysts to question whether they have what it takes to be a dominant force in the West and the league as a whole.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was voted NBA Cup MVP, led the player statistics chart with a triple-double of 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. SGA ended the game with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists.
There’s an ongoing debate in the league about whether most teams in the East can truly compete against their Western rivals. This argument was laid bare when the Thunder, the number 1 seed in the West, lost to the number 5 seed in the East.
The loss also resurfaced memories of last season’s playoff defeat to the 5th-seed Dallas Mavericks (4-2). Nonetheless, here are three reasons why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the team to beat in the Western Conference:
3 reasons Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are the team to beat in the West
#1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's continued dominance
This is perhaps the most obvious reason: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is having another phenomenal season. He is averaging 30.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game.
He poses a significant offensive threat with his scoring and ability to execute defense-splitting passes. And with him not yet hitting his prime, the Thunder have a strong chance of dominating the West for several more years. According to ESPN, only Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic are ranked higher than him in the West.
#2. Team depth and talent across the roster
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the face of the franchise and its undisputed star, the Canadian is supported by a young and talent core. Players like Jalen Williams (23), Chet Holmgren (22), Lu Dort (25) and Isaiah Hartenstein (26) have all shown significant growth this season.
Jalen Williams, who is in his third year in the league, has shown the most growth. He is having his best season so far, averaging 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
#3 Coach Mark Daigneault
While the players take most of the glory, the men behind the tactics often remain in the shadows. Mark Daigneault's time with the Thunder has been remarkable since he joined from the G League in 2020.
Despite a rocky start with 22-50 and 24-58 records in his first two seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22), he made significant progress. By developing a strong core of young players, he led the team to the 10th seed in the 2023-24 season and the 1st seed in the 2024-25 season.
This season, under his leadership, they have maintained their dominant status in the West (1st seed, 20-5). His ability to adapt his game plan based on the opposition and get his players to adjust to every plan makes him one of the best coaches in the league.
However, while this recent loss is painful, the OKC fans need a title to demonstrate their growing dominance. The loss against the Bucks can't be used as a determinant to gauge their strengths in the hotly contested Western Conference.