“I’m gonna go Russ the No. 2 and KD 3” – Jeff Teague crowns Shai Gilgeous Alexander as the Thunder GOAT originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Ever since the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle this past season under the leadership of 27-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the hierarchy in discussions surrounding the franchise’s greatest player has undergone a significant shift. This sentiment was reflected in Jeff Teague’s recent change of mind.
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Initially, Teague leaned toward crowning Russell Westbrook as the Thunder GOAT; however, upon reflecting on the magnitude of SGA’s recent achievements, he promptly altered his stance, acknowledging that the Canadian superstar might already hold that distinction during his brief stay in OKC.
Jeff Teague crowns SGA as the Thunder GOAT
Westbrook’s case for being the team’s GOAT has always been compelling. Over his 11-year tenure with the Thunder, he led the team to four Western Conference Finals appearances and one NBA Finals berth, something the organization hadn’t experienced in almost two decades. Moreover, he led the league in scoring and assists twice, while also winning the league’s MVP in 2017. His commitment to the team and refusal to abandon them, even when Kevin Durant decided to quit, cemented his place in the fans’ hearts.
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On the other hand, Shai’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of remarkable. In the same season, he led the league in scoring, won the regular-season MVP, the Western Conference MVP, and the Finals MVP while leading the team to the Larry O’Brien trophy. Furthermore, his maturity at such a young age to lead a youthful team past two Game 7s only earned more respect against his name.
Thus, Teague, after careful consideration, admitted that Gilgeous-Alexander’s unprecedented combination of individual dominance and team success has already placed him above Westbrook in terms of franchise GOAT legacy.
“Russ (is) the ultimate. Nah, Russ the ultimate Thunder,” Teague said on his show. “Shai’s gonna be the No. 1. Russ still No. 1, man. Shai will be No. 1…Nah, Shai’s the best. I’m thinking about it, he averaged 32 points per game. Yeah, he No. 1. I’m gonna go Russ the No. 2 and KD 3. Just because I think Russ, I’m speaking for their fanbase probably.”
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Is SGA the true OKC Thunder GOAT over Russ?
From an emotional standpoint, Russ’s loyalty and tireless work ethic will always resonate deeply with the Thunder faithful, particularly given how he remained committed to the team even after their heartbreaking loss in the 2016 Western Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors. This unwavering dedication explains Teague’s initial hesitation to name anyone else as the franchise’s greatest player.
However, from a more objective and results-driven perspective, SGA’s ability to lead the Thunder to their ultimate goal while simultaneously establishing himself as the best player in the league is difficult to overlook. That is why Teague, even if confused, decides in the latter’s favor.
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Who knows if Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead the Thunder in such an empathic manner in the coming seasons, the room for debate and confusion might end sooner rather than later.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.