Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sends Strong Message on Sam Presti After Thunder Fall Short
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not trying to play front office after the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff heartbreak. The defending champions saw their season end in Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs, losing 111-103 in a series that could have gone either way.
Naturally, that kind of exit brings questions about roster changes, offseason moves, and what OKC needs to do to get back to the top. But SGA made it clear he will not be offering suggestions. Instead, he said he trusts Sam Presti to handle the Thunder's next steps and simply do his job.
When asked how much input he would give to the management and ownership in the off-season, SGA replied saying, "I will give zero input, I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."
"I will give zero input, I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 31, 2026
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the offseason.
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
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The San Antonio Spurs are headed back to the NBA Finals, and they did it in the most impressive way possible: by surviving a Game 7 against the reigning champions.
This was not a clean, easy closeout. The Oklahoma City Thunder kept pushing, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave them every chance with a brilliant 35-point performance. But the Spurs had more balance, more answers, and just enough composure in the biggest moments.
Victor Wembanyama did not need a monster scoring night to control the game. He finished with 22 points, hit timely threes, and walked away as Western Conference Finals MVP. That alone says plenty about how quickly he has become the face of San Antonio's new rise.
The supporting cast was just as important. Julian Champagnie caught fire from deep with six made threes, while Stephon Castle gave the Spurs a little bit of everything with 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
The moment that really shifted the finish came from Luke Kornet. With Wembanyama in foul trouble, Kornet came up with a huge chase-down block that stopped Oklahoma City's momentum and helped San Antonio regain control.
Now the Spurs move on to face the New York Knicks, setting up a Finals matchup with plenty of history and a very different feel from the last time these teams met on this stage.
Related: Mitchell Robinson's Plan for NBA Finals After Suffering Pinky Injury
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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 9:46 PM.