The LA Clippers didn't want to part ways with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. All intel leading up to the wee hours of July 5 was that they were extremely high on the First Team All-Rookie honoree, to the point the front office considered him a franchise building block. But when the opportunity arose to morph into a championship favorite overnight, pairing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, LA's hand was essentially forced.
Gilgeous-Alexander owns the same status with the Oklahoma City Thunder now that used to with the Clippers. His focus has shifted from helping LA turn the corner into spearheading the next era of Thunder basketball. But just in case anyone wondered whether Gilgeous-Alexander harbored any ill will for his former team, Gilgeous-Alexander went out of his way on Wednesday to commend the Clippers for an NBA debut “to remember.”
“Just want to take a moment to thank the Clippers organization for making my first pro year one to remember!” he wrote on Twitter. “Huge special thanks to the great fans that supported me throughout my rookie season! But I'm excited to get going in OKC #Thunderup”
Gilgeous-Alexander was sent to Oklahoma City last week in the trade that netted the Clippers George, and by proxy, Leonard. He was the lone player included in Oklahoma City's historic trade haul; the remaining compensation was a collection of first-round picks and pick swaps.
The No. 12 overall pick of last year's draft, Gilgeous-Alexander started in LA's backcourt last season, averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on solid efficiency while making a positive impact defensively. His play against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, instructively, was even more impressive.
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