SGA saw the future with the Thunder 🔮In a 2022 interview, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shared some high expectations after signing a 5-year extension with Oklahoma City (🎥 @andrewschlecht, @theathletichq)

When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat down for a 2022 interview shortly after signing his five-year max extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the questions were predictable—and fair. Why commit long-term to a team deep in a rebuild? Why place your trust in a franchise that had just traded away its stars and embraced a patient, future-focused approach?

SGA’s answer? Calm. Confident. Visionary.

He believed in what the Thunder were building. And even then, before the wins came, before the national spotlight returned to Oklahoma City, before playoff crowds filled Paycom Center with electricity—SGA saw the future.

“I know what we’re building here,” he said with conviction during that 2022 interview with @AndrewSchlecht and The Athletic. “And I want to be a part of it. I think we’re going to shock a lot of people.”

Fast forward to the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and shock feels like an understatement. SGA isn’t just leading a competitive team—he’s leading a contender. The Thunder are no longer waiting for the future. They’re living in it.

From Patience to Powerhouse

In 2022, the Thunder were still very much in rebuild mode. They had a promising young core—SGA, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort—and a war chest of draft picks. But their timeline seemed years away. Many assumed SGA, already emerging as an elite scorer and playmaker, would eventually grow tired of losing and demand a move to a big-market contender.

Instead, he doubled down.

The five-year extension was a message. Not just of loyalty, but of belief. He trusted GM Sam Presti’s plan. He trusted the coaching staff. Most of all, he trusted himself.

And now, that trust is paying off.

MVP-Caliber Ascension

Since signing that extension, SGA has made the leap. He’s transformed from an exciting young guard into a top-10 player in the NBA, earning All-NBA First Team honors and finishing as a finalist for MVP voting.

His 2024-25 campaign has been nothing short of dominant. Averaging over 30 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game, Gilgeous-Alexander has mastered the art of efficiency. He’s deadly in the mid-range, can finish with either hand, and manipulates defenders with a cadence and control that can’t be taught—only honed.

But SGA’s impact goes beyond numbers. He’s become the emotional and strategic anchor of one of the most cohesive, mature young teams in the league. Night in, night out, he makes the right reads, delivers in the clutch, and elevates the teammates around him.

Building the Right Way

Part of what makes the Thunder’s rise so impressive is how it was done. No splashy free-agent signings. No shortcuts. Just smart drafting, excellent development, and a commitment to long-term sustainability.

Chet Holmgren’s arrival in 2023 after recovering from injury added a new dimension to the roster. His rim protection, floor spacing, and basketball IQ complemented SGA perfectly. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams blossomed into a two-way wing with serious star potential, and Giddey continued to evolve as a versatile playmaker.

Together, they’ve formed one of the most balanced starting fives in the NBA—young, skilled, and unselfish.

It’s the kind of roster that SGA envisioned back in 2022. And he’s not just a part of it—he’s the heart of it.

Leadership in Action

While other stars talk about culture and chemistry, SGA lives it. He doesn’t scream for headlines or stir up drama on social media. He lets his game and work ethic speak. He leads by example in the weight room, in film sessions, and on the court.

Even now, in the heat of the playoffs, teammates and coaches describe him the same way: poised, focused, unflappable.

It’s easy to forget that SGA is just 26 years old. The maturity he’s shown—through the lean rebuilding years, through the national doubt, through the pressure of finally being “the guy”—has been nothing short of remarkable.

And it all stems from that unwavering belief he shared three years ago.

A Message Fulfilled

In that 2022 interview, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t promise a title. He didn’t demand instant results. He just said he believed in the direction. He saw something special forming in Oklahoma City. A place where he could grow, lead, and win.

Today, the Thunder are a top seed. They’ve made a deep playoff run. And they’re doing it with the youngest core left standing in the postseason.

And while the headlines are now catching up—while the NBA world is waking up to the Thunder’s arrival—SGA knew this was coming.

He saw the future. And he was right.

What Comes Next?

The story isn’t finished. Not even close.

Oklahoma City enters Game 6 with a chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. And while the opponent is formidable, the Thunder have something few teams possess: a star who believed before anyone else did.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t just commit to a team. He committed to a vision. And now, that vision is coming to life—one playoff win at a time.