SAN ANTONIO — The black curtains parted, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked through them.
Slowly.
There was some stiffness to the superstar guard’s stride toward the podium. An uncharacteristic hitch by a guy known for being smooth on and off the court.
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When he sat down in his seat, Gilgeous-Alexander’s vintage Harley Davidson T-shirt expanded and retracted with every panting breath. He paused between sentences, gulping air only to immediately spit it back out.
That prompted some questioning from one reporter. How much physical fatigue was Gilgeous-Alexander feeling after OKC’s 118-91 road loss to San Antonio on Thursday? How was he holding up entering a do-or-die Game 7 with a trip back to the NBA Finals on the line?
“I’m good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said with his chest, which had gone still. “I’m ready to go. Biggest game of my career. If I lose, my season is over.”
More: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs dismantle Thunder to force Game 7 for NBA Finals spot
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 28: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 28: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs warms up prior to a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) practices before game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
(Daniel Dunn, Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) practices before game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
(Daniel Dunn, Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder Chet Holmgren enters the stadium before game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
(Dustin Safranek, Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA;
Oklahoma City Thunder Aaron Wiggins enters the stadium before game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
(Dustin Safranek, Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder Center Isaiah Hartenstein enters the stadium before game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
(Daniel Dunn, Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 NBA Playoffs WCF
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) enters the stadium before game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
(Daniel Dunn, Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)
Gilgeous-Alexander was quick to respond in that moment, and he’ll have to respond when the ball tips up at 7 p.m. CT Saturday in Oklahoma City.
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He’ll have to deliver a statement performance that’s loud enough to drown out what has been an underwhelming series by his standards. The two-time MVP is averaging 24.3 points on 37.9% shooting from the field and 26.1% shooting from deep.
One contributing factor is the breath-taking on-ball defense of Stephon Castle, who has given him little air space. Another is the strategically-timed double teaming that has been deployed by Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. And then there’s the extraordinary rim protection of San Antonio’s extraterrestrial, Victor Wembanyama.
But another factor is shots simply not falling. Spots on the floor such as the elbow, the baseline and the wing have helped Gilgeous-Alexander become one of the highest-paid players in basketball, and yet he hasn’t been able to cash in with as much consistency.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 55% during the regular season on open looks, which is defined by the NBA as 4-6 feet of space. That split consisted of 60.1% shooting on 2-pointers and 43.6% shooting on 3-pointers. But he’s only shooting 37% on open looks (43.6% on 2s and 20% on 3s) so far this series.
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“I’m not too sure, to be honest,” Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked why his shots aren’t falling at their usual rate. “A lot of the shots that I’m shooting, I’ve shot plenty of times before, and they feel good. They’re just not going in.”
NBA Playoffs report card: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder get smacked in Game 6 by Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 28: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Carter Bryant #11 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter in Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
Gilgeous-Alexander is content with carrying the burden of responsibility for his subpar play. The superstar doesn’t shy away from placing the weight of the world on his broad shoulders.
But head coach Mark Daigneault often talks about the “global approach” OKC takes to the game. There are things everyone in the ecosystem can do to ease the gravity Gilgeous-Alexander faces on a nightly basis.
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The Thunder can get stops and force turnovers, allowing it to then face a defense that isn’t set. Its supporting cast of guys can also play with more force offensively, whether they’re setting screens or attacking the rim, to create more space.
Those are things OKC didn’t do Thursday that contributed to Gilgeous-Alexander’s stat line of 15 points and four assists on 6-for-18 shooting from the field (0 for 5 from deep) in 28 mundane minutes.
“I’d never discredit the defense and the opponent,” Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander’s struggles. “There’s always that. But there are things I think we can do better. … The whole game is connected. It’s not one guy and his shots. We all need to play better on both ends of the floor. If we do that, it’ll put everybody at a better advantage.”
Fortunately for Gilgeous-Alexander, his mentality gives him a constant advantage.
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It’s what helped him make a late rise in the recruiting ranks to land at Kentucky. It’s what helped him rise to stardom with OKC after being shipped off by the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s what helped him rise to the top of the basketball world as an NBA champion. And it’s what he believes will help him rise to the occasion on Saturday.
Gilgeous-Alexander trusts the journey he has embarked on, even if he’s moving slower than usual.
“It’s too late to abandon my work, my game and who I am this late in the season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’ve got to trust it and live or die by it.”
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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Thunder vs. Spurs
GAME 7 TIPOFF: 7 p.m. CT Saturday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (NBC and Peacock)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trusting work despite shooting woes vs Spurs