LOS ANGELES — Certain people have a hard time moving forward because they steadily are looking back at what is in the rear view mirror. That has been the subject at hand surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers fan base and their now former MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder just won the 2025 NBA Championship Sunday night against the Indiana Pacers. While this should be a moment for Alexander to celebrate. Much of the NBA/Clipper fan base, has taken this as another opportunity to bring up the past again, and what could’ve been. 

Back in 2019, there was a mega trade made between the Clippers and Thunder. The Clippers traded away Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Galinari, and six picks for Thunder SF Paul George. When the deal was made the mood around not only the Clippers but around the NBA was nothing short of ecstatic. Fast forward to now, there has been a shift in the number of people who thought this wasn’t the best idea for the Clippers.

The reason is because of what the Clippers gave up they were not able to achieve their ultimate goal which was a NBA championship. While they were able to finally get to the Western Conference finals back in 2021 that wasn’t the ultimate goal. Especially, after retrieving George and superstar Kawhi Leonard together in the 2019 off-season. Not to mention, the amount of picks that were given up showed the Clippers were all in for this plan.

However, things didn’t work out for the Clippers. From 2020-2025, the Clippers have been to one conference finals, and in four out of five of their postseasons, either Leonard or George were out with injuries in the playoffs. There hasn’t been a Duo in recent NBA history the caliber of players of those two has missed so much time together in the postseason. That is where it starts, ends, and begins for the Clippers, not the trade that was placed as a distraction. 

The Clippers had a mentality where they were looking to compete for a championship instantly. While the Thunder chose to build from the ground up with GIlgeous-Alexander. After the departure of Chris Paul in 2020 from the Thunder they immediately began the rebuilding process.

From 2020-2023, the Thunder did not make the postseason with Gilgeous Alexander leading them. Year by year, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti who is big on draft picks built the house through the draft. In 2021, the Thunder drafted Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren, and Aaron Wiggins. In 2022, it was Jalen Williams, and Jaylin Williams. In 2023, it was Cason Wallace and Keynote Johnson. Giddey is the only player of the main core who is not on the team.

The outside tends to look at the result and not the journey along with the struggle. This is what Clipper fans need to understand and stop trying to involve themselves in a scenario that doesn’t involve them. When you actually look at the picture for what it is the Thunder are right where they are supposed to be at off of years of high draft picks along with the development of Gilgeous-Alexander.

The masses believe that the Clippers are responsible for the number of draft picks they gave up in the trade is why the Thunder are this good. When in reality that is not true either. Even with the six draft picks the Clippers gave up the only person who panned out to be a valuable piece to their current championship core is Williams. 

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center.

From 2019-2023, that window the Clippers were a better team than the Thunder which was by design. However, during that time Leonard and George both suffered injuries every year in the postseason. So I’m confused, what did the Clippers do to ignite the Thunder to a championship? Give up rookie Gilgeous-Alexander?

Clippers fans must ask themselves an actual question. From 2020-2024, if Gilgeous-Alexander stays and was left with that burden without Leonard who was injured for four straight postseasons, and without George for the Clippers fans who preferred they not do the trade. How far would Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Clippers? If it isn’t Western Conference finals appearance then there isn’t much more to talk about. Remember it took Gilgeous-Alexander to go through a three-season drought of not making the postseason before leading his team to be an actual contender.

This has nothing to do with trade. I know the masses would like to think that, but there is honestly nothing there to go off of. 

The one thing, the masses can say that the Clippers allowed to happen that makes it seem as if they lost the trade was the departure of George in the 2024 off-season. It was at that moment when the same guy the Clippers mortgaged their future for was the same guy who they failed to keep around.

Here is the truth. Starting in 2019, the Clippers were on their timeline to try and win a championship instantly, and it didn’t work out due to injury not ability. The Thunder were on their timeline choosing to play the long game and build through the draft, and it did work out. Leonard and George were added to a seasoned Clippers team. While Gilgeous-Alexander was added to a rebuilding Thunder team that was able to grow him into the player he is today. Instead of leaving it there the false narratives continue to pile up.

The more the Clipper fan base continues to blame themselves for decisions and outcomes which have nothing to do with them the more they continue to hold back progress. However, there are certain fans that choose not to backtrack and understand logic.

It’s easy to look back at the Paul George for SGA trade package and call it a horrible trade.

PG13 in ’18-’19

28ppg 4apg 2apg

3rd in MVP voting, 3rd in DPOY

Kawhi in ’18-’19

26ppg 3apg 7rpg

Clutch Playoff run and Finals MVP

Kawhi and PG13 could’ve won the Clippers… pic.twitter.com/rWWiPuZVWi

— SI (@SI_02_) June 23, 2025

If a team has a chance to go get someone who had a top 3 MVP season like George, and a finals MVP and champion like Leonard. That is a conversation that is impossible not to have. The time frame of Leonard and George is aligned with one another that goes against the point that if Leonard came by himself he was supposed to wait for Alexander to develop into a legit star.

What the NBA world is seeing from the Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander is their harvest after going through a 3-4-year drought. What Gilgeous-Alexander is with the Thunder would have not been duplicated on the Clippers because of the time frame both sides were on. Â