As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for their highly anticipated NBA Cup semifinal against the San Antonio Spurs, All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently shared his thoughts on the team’s mentality and reacted humorously to a lighthearted viral moment involving Thunder General Manager Sam Presti.
In an interview with Rachel Nichols, Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the seriousness with which Presti approaches his role, responding to a joke about Presti attending Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s sonogram appointment. “Sam takes his job very seriously, and whatever it takes to be great, he will do so,” Gilgeous-Alexander remarked, highlighting Presti’s commitment to the team’s success.
The Thunder, who are the defending champions, are entering Saturday’s clash with a determined mindset reminiscent of their previous success. Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized that despite winning the last title, the team continues to maintain a “hunter’s mentality.” This approach has not wavered since last season, as they strive to better themselves with each game they play.
“We go out there with a hunter’s mentality ourselves, and honestly, we go out there to better ourselves,” he explained. “If we didn’t get better tonight, then we wasted an opportunity. That’s kind of how we see it.”
Gilgeous-Alexander and his wife, Hailey Summers, welcomed their son Ares in April 2024, adding a personal touch to his life as he juggles being a family man and an elite athlete. Meanwhile, under Presti’s leadership, the Thunder have strategically maneuvered through a rebuilding phase, positioning the franchise for a championship run by re-signing key players like Gilgeous-Alexander himself, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to max contracts.
As the Thunder aim to extend their franchise-best winning streak to 17 games, Gilgeous-Alexander is putting forth another spectacular performance, averaging 32.6 points per game while shooting an impressive 56.2% overall, including 45.4% from three-point range. His consistent production will be vital for Oklahoma City as they prepare to face the Spurs for a chance to advance further in the tournament.
With the combination of Gilgeous-Alexander’s individual prowess and the team’s collective mindset, the Thunder remain hopeful about their aspirations of becoming back-to-back champions.