Some refer to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s superstar as “SGA,” whereas others have moved on to something along the lines of “MVP.” Regardless of where one’s three-letter acronym preference lies, it was difficult not to notice how often greatness arrived in triples for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on May 22, 2025. Smelling blood in the water during an end-of-half possession, Gilgeous-Alexander uses a slowed size-up to signal his request for an isolation, with his Rolex watch-wearing teammates seemingly aware of what time it was. Flawless in lulling Jaden McDaniels’ defensive stance ever so slightly, the newly-named Most Valuable Player backsteps into a trifecta, gifting Oklahoma City a bit of distance on the scoreboards before intermission. Gilgeous-Alexander raised hardware, and then his level of play during Game Two of the Western Conference Finals, as the Thunder took hold of a commanding 2-0 series lead. Upping his offensive output in each successive series, Gilgeous-Alexander’s magic encouraged 38 points on elite efficiency overall (12-of-21) and from the foul line (13-of-15), followed by a three-rebound, eight-assist, three-steal, one-triple complement. · May 22, 2025