Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's calm in the chaos is the MVP force powering Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA Finals run
Just a few weeks ago, it was tough to picture the Oklahoma City Thunder standing here, Finals-bound and fearless. Their path looked shaky, one bad shooting night or a monster game from an opposing MVP away from falling apart.
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But with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guiding the way, all that uncertainty has faded. The newly crowned MVP didn't just lead the Oklahoma City Thunder through a brutal playoff stretch—he grew with every step, turning pressure into fuel. Now with the red-hot Indiana Pacers waiting, his calm presence might be the Thunder's biggest advantage yet.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's rise from Game 7 jitters to NBA Finals poise fuels Oklahoma City Thunder's championship chase
The pressure peaked weeks ago in
, where the Thunder faced elimination in a high-stakes Game 7 against
and the Nuggets. The defending champions had just delivered a 12-point gut punch in Game 6, and the
was staring down a daunting challenge.
'I was nervous to be honest,'
admitted. Speaking during the postgame presser following OKC's stunning 32-point victory over the Nuggets, the MVP reflected on what was at stake. 'Just knowing what's on the line. We've worked so hard in the whole 82-game season, we've all worked so hard in the summer, to know if you don't bring your A-game it could all be over with and all for nothing.' The nerves were real, but so was the response.
Image via X
From that moment forward, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder found their rhythm. In the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, OKC came out swinging. Dominant wins in Games 1 and 2 at home set the tone, and even a lopsided Game 3 loss didn't throw them off course. The Thunder regrouped quickly and closed out the series with authority.
Fast forward to Wednesday's NBA Finals media day, and Gilgeous-Alexander spoke from a place of calm clarity.
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'Yeah, I just figured out how to navigate through all the emotions and the nerves and the waiting process,' he said. 'Which is just plugging into my loved ones, try not to think about it so much, stress about it so much, just enjoy life and stay in the moment.'
That emotional grounding could be critical as Oklahoma City faces arguably its toughest matchup yet. The Indiana Pacers, who've stunned the league with their offensive firepower, present a stylistic challenge unlike any the Thunder have seen so far.
But Gilgeous-Alexander sounds ready.
'When these Playoffs go on, you get better in controlling the situations, controlling your emotions,' he said. 'You understand what's coming.'
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When the Thunder take the floor in the NBA Finals, it won't just be about talent or tactics. It'll be about composure. It'll be about a team that grew stronger under pressure, led by a superstar who found peace in the chaos. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may have started this playoff run with nerves, but he enters the Finals as a master of the moment.
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