SGA’s Crown? The Thunder’s GOAT Debate Heats Up After Historic 2024–25 Season
Byline: A Comprehensive Fictional Feature
In the heart of Oklahoma City, a new name is echoing louder than ever before — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The silky-smooth Canadian guard didn’t just take the league by storm in the 2024–25 NBA season; he took the Thunder franchise to places it hadn’t been in nearly two decades — the NBA mountaintop.
It was a season for the history books: SGA averaged 30.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds, and led the Thunder to a 67–15 record, the best in franchise history. He capped the year by sweeping both the NBA MVP and Finals MVP honors, guiding OKC to its first NBA title since 2008, when the franchise was still in its Seattle Supersonics incarnation.
With champagne still drying on the locker room carpet and banners being designed for the rafters of Paycom Center, the inevitable question surfaced:
Is SGA now the greatest player in Thunder history?
Jeff Teague Weighs In
Retired NBA guard and current podcast host Jeff Teague added gasoline to the fire during a recent episode of Club 520. Asked who he believed was the Thunder’s GOAT, Teague didn’t hesitate:
“It was Westbrook — no question. MVP. Triple-double king. Lived and breathed OKC.”
But then came the pivot.
“Now? After this year? It’s gotta be SGA. He brought them a chip. He did what Russ and KD never could — he finished the job.”
Teague’s admission sent waves through NBA social media, with hashtags like #SGAGOAT and #ThunderDebate trending for days. His words reflected a wider shift in how fans and analysts are beginning to view the Thunder legacy.
The Contenders
Before SGA’s rise, the Thunder GOAT debate centered on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant’s 2013–14 MVP season remains one of the most efficient and dominant campaigns in league history. His 32 points per game that year, coupled with the Thunder’s 59 wins, cemented him as the most unstoppable scorer of his generation.
Westbrook, meanwhile, became a force of nature. In 2016–17, he averaged a triple-double (31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG), winning MVP and carrying a post-Durant Thunder squad to the playoffs. He followed that feat by averaging a triple-double for three consecutive seasons, a statistical marvel never before seen in NBA history.
Yet, despite their accolades and unforgettable moments, neither brought a championship to Oklahoma City.
SGA: The Complete Package
Gilgeous-Alexander has done what his predecessors couldn’t — elevate his game and his team when it mattered most. His 2025 playoff run was legendary:
41 points in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals vs. the Nuggets
A 38-point triple-double in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to close out the Celtics
Shooting splits of 52/39/89 throughout the postseason
He led a roster built through smart drafting and savvy trades, including Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey, turning OKC into a two-way juggernaut.
More than the numbers, SGA brought a calm, relentless leadership, a unique blend of humility and killer instinct that perfectly fit a franchise and fanbase known for loyalty and grit.
The Legacy Factor
The GOAT debate often extends beyond stat sheets. It’s about impact.
Westbrook was OKC’s emotional engine.
Durant was their transcendent scorer.
SGA? He’s the closer. The champion. The era-definer.
As the Thunder hoisted their banner in June 2025, the conversation didn’t end — it evolved.
Final Word
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the greatest player in Oklahoma City Thunder history?
Jeff Teague says yes. The trophy says yes. And increasingly, so does the basketball world.
But as with all GOAT debates, the truth lies in the eye of the beholder.
One thing, however, is clear:
The Thunder have found their legend. And his name is Shai.
