Bill Simmons makes wild Thunder-Brandin Podziemski take appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is favored to win his second straight MVP Award, and he may also be favored to win his second straight NBA Finals MVP Award when the playoffs start. If the famous person guard validates these odds, he might turn into the consensus greatest participant on the earth as we speak. Despite all of the reward Gilgeous -Alexander is receiving and can probably obtain sooner or later, the narrative will nonetheless be closely tied to the collective greatness of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Advertisement
Bill Simmons and Tim Legler imagine OKC is so deep and well-balanced that the staff might win 50-plus games without its top guy. In his podcast for “The Ringer,” Simmons performed an train during which he swapped MVP candidates with strong gamers after which speculated on what the squad’s new document could be. While holding all different components the identical — accidents, in-season acquisitions — the longtime sports activities author and media character argued that the Thunder might nonetheless go 53-29 if Gilgeous-Alexander was changed with Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors.
Legler, a former NBA 3-point specialist and present colour commentator for ESPN, truly gave OKC a few extra Ws than Simmons did. The roster would nonetheless boast two All-Stars in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, different ascending younger expertise like Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain and a plethora of defensive pests. Podziemski is averaging 13.7 factors, 5.2 rebounds and three.8 assists per contest whereas additionally taking pictures 37.1 p.c from 3-point vary. The playoffs ought to be attainable.
But 50-plus victories is difficult to fathom primarily based on the principles Simmons laid out.
Williams has performed simply 33 video games this season. Only Wallace and sharpshooter Isaiah Joe have logged a minimum of 70 video games so far. While it’s affordable to imagine {that a} 23-year-old Brandin Podziemski might enter an entire new gear on OKC, pushing by with out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a whole marketing campaign could be extraordinarily difficult.
Advertisement
Besides dropping 31.1 factors per sport on sensational 55.3 p.c taking pictures and consistently carrying down defenses by attending to the free-throw line, the 27-year-0ld Canadian additionally contributes on the defensive finish and is thought to be a terrific chief. He retains this fun-loving group grounded and targeted on the last word aim. He epitomizes the work ethic that defines the relentless 2025 NBA champions.
Yes, the Thunder are 8-4 with out Gilgeous-Alexander this season, however solely half of these wins have come in opposition to respectable competitors. If Oklahoma City didn’t have No. 2 all yearlong, that document might considerably change.
Future Hall of Fame basic supervisor Sam Presti has expertly assembled a juggernaut and 2024 Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault impressively leads it from the sidelines. The Thunder have constructed a robust tradition that would overcome a slew of accidents. But SGA is the fulcrum of this exemplary operation.
While the media and followers ponder this intriguing hypothetical, the remainder of the league should confront its actuality. A 64-16 squad that already is aware of what it takes to win a title will probably be rolling into the playoffs with home-court benefit, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will certainly be main the best way.
Advertisement
Related: Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s mic-drop take on ‘free-throw merchant’ label
Related: Nickeil Alexander-Walker reveals when Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got his signature aura
