Shai praises Thunder’s title chances this season: “We are…”

Without a doubt, one of the most interesting to watch and surprising teams of the season is Oklahoma City Thunder. The franchise of Oklahoma continues with an impeccable campaign for Western Conferencecurrently occupying second place, with 43-19, the same as the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the playoffs getting closer and closer, the main doubt that remains about the team is the youth of the squad and whether they are prepared for the task even without experience. But, that doesn’t seem to bother the team’s young Canadian star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“I think we are capable of anything”, replied Shai, when asked by the journalist Malika Andrews, from the North American “ESPN”, about OKC’s chances of lifting the trophy this season. The Canadian also added that the franchise’s successful trajectory over the next five years is directly linked to winning a ring.

The Thunder have everything they need to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020. Led by Shai, the squad still has names that surprised this year, such as Jalen Williams and the newbie Chet Holmgren, ranking in the top-5 best attacks and defenses in the league. Only the Boston Celticsowner of the best campaign in NBA, fits the question. The franchise has an average age of 24.2 years, making it, if it wins, the youngest team in NBA history to raise a Larry O’Briensurpassing the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977, which had an average of 24.7.

The greatest hope of winning the unprecedented title lies precisely with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The player is one of the few on the squad who has playoff experience and is having the best season of his career, with averages of 31.1 points, 6.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals (best in the league). ), holding the All-Star Game for the first time and becoming a strong candidate for the MVP award for the 2023/24 season, even if he has to overthrow the unstoppable Nikola Jokic for that.