Thunder MVP Gilgeous-Alexander labels season a 'failure' after playoff exit
The two-time league MVP scored 35 points in Game 7 but admitted the seven-game loss to the San Antonio Spurs meant he did not achieve his primary objective.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has described his season as a failure following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s elimination by the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. Despite securing his second consecutive NBA MVP award and entering the playoffs as the Western Conference’s top seed, the Thunder were unable to defend their title, falling short in the conference finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander stated clearly that he failed to achieve his goal of a second consecutive championship. Speaking one day after the series concluded, the star guard emphasised that the lack of a title meant the season did not meet his standards. He noted that while the outcome was disappointing, the experience provided critical lessons for future career development.
The Thunder’s campaign was significantly hampered by injuries to key contributors. Jalen Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer, aggravated a left hamstring injury in Game 2 and was limited to just 54 minutes across the entire series. Ajay Mitchell, who averaged 22.5 points during the second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, strained his right calf in Game 3 and missed the remainder of the playoffs.
Defensively, the Spurs utilised a scheme centred on Victor Wembanyama’s rim protection and Stephon Castle’s perimeter pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander. This strategy forced the Thunder star into heavily contested midrange jumpers and reduced his volume at the rim. Consequently, Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting efficiency dropped markedly, averaging 25.9 points on 40.9% shooting in the playoffs, compared to 31.1 points on 55.3% during the regular season.
Starting centre Chet Holmgren also struggled in his matchup, averaging just 10.7 points on 7.3 shot attempts over seven games. Holmgren missed all three of his three-point attempts in the final four games, including a four-point performance in the elimination game. Despite these struggles, Gilgeous-Alexander publicly defended his teammate, pointing to Holmgren’s role in securing the top seed during the regular season and affirming the team’s reliance on him moving forward.
