The two best words in sports are “Game 7.” The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have exchanged blows like it’s a heavyweight title fight, and now it all comes down to Saturday night for a win-or-go-home to determine who will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
With Game 7 just a day away and a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, player legacies always come into play in high-stakes playoff series.
Some guys can catapult themselves into all-time conversations, and some can create stains on their careers. In this NBA Western Conference Finals, there’s one player who has the most to lose in this series, and it’s easily Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
MORE: Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t handle San Antonio Spurs physical Game 6
Shai’s Struggles Throughout the WCF
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is fresh off a second consecutive NBA MVP award, earning the award because of his elite scoring and all-time great efficiency while doing so.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31 points on 55% shooting throughout the regular season. Those numbers have dipped significantly in the WCF, with Shai now averaging just 24 points on an abysmal 38% from the field.
A huge part of what makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so effective is his ability to get to the rim and either finish or draw a foul. In this series against the Spurs, San Antonio has completely negated Shai’s ability to get downhill and either finish or force contact.
If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has another stinker of a game, where he doesn’t eclipse 30 points and shoots in the high 30 or low 40% range, this becomes an immediate stain on his career and raises real questions for Oklahoma City’s future.
Beating the Spurs now, while they’re young
After the 2025 season ended, and the Thunder hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy at home after their Game 7 win over the Pacers, it felt like OKC had a clear runway through the west for the next five years.
Now the Spurs have emerged and are way ahead of schedule, and the Thunder are being taken to a Game 7 against a Spurs team where guys like Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle are the worst versions of themselves that the Thunder will see for the near future.
Not to mention Victor Wembanyama is already emerging as a clear top-three player in the world, which puts even more pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win tomorrow night’s Game 7 and then go after a second consecutive ring and Finals MVP.
Shai’s legacy as a top-five guard ever can be created this season, with just five more wins, if the first of those five wins doesn’t happen tomorrow, then it’s going to be a major missed opportunity that they could not get back with the Spurs ascending even further.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
About the Author
