Some of the most passionate fans in the National Basketball Association reside in a small market.
Supporters of the Seattle Supersonics saw legends such as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp not be able to propel Seattle to a championship in the NBA.
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The franchise witnessed its only Larry O’Brien trophy in 1979 before moving to Oklahoma City.
People thought the trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden would deliver the Thunder to its first NBA Championship to appease the proud Supersonic fans of what they were robbed of.
They won a division title and the Western Conference crown in 2012, but they came up short in the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat. Durant and Westbrook led the Thunder to four division titles without Harden; however, Oklahoma City never made it back to the Promised Land it went to in 2012.
A native Canadian and former Kentucky star may finally give SuperSonic/Thunder fans a breakthrough.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is in his seventh year in the league.
He has spent the last six seasons at OKC, including a career-high in scoring this year. SGA is averaging 33 points per game, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pounder has the Thunder leading the Northwest Division at 56-12 with a spot clinched in the playoffs and having the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a three-time NBA All-Star (2023-25) and two-time All-NBA First Team selection (2023-24).
He has help on the offensive end with forward Jalen Williams averaging 21.3 points per game and Chet Holmgren pulling in 15 points and 8.5 boards, but Alex Caruso provides leadership on defense in averaging nearly two (1.7) steals per contest.
SGA has Oklahoma City fourth in the league in points per game, totaling 119.6.
If he can continue to pace the Thunder well, SGA will be the star to finally get OKC over the hump to an NBA title.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
