Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Continues Historic Legacy Of Thunder All-Stars

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a rich history of sending players to the NBA All-Star game.

In the first 12 years of the team being in Oklahoma City, four separate players earned this honor. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George and Chris Paul paved the way for a newly relocated franchise to emerge as one of the most consistent teams in the league over the first decade and beyond.

The last NBA All-Star to represent Oklahoma City was Paul during his lone season with the team in the 2019-20 campaign. His selection to the team that season marked the 11th consecutive year that the Thunder had at least one player be an All-Star. At the time, that was the longest active streak in the NBA. In fact, the only season of Oklahoma City’s existence to that point in which it did not have a representative at the All-Star game was the inaugural 2008-09 season.

While Thunder fans were spoiled for more than a decade with perennial All-Stars, the first rebuild of the franchise since the relocation was truly underway after trading away Paul.

Since then, OKC hadn’t been represented in the prestigious Sunday night event. However, after two years without having a player named to the team, the Thunder are once again sending someone to the All-Star game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will officially be headed to Salt Lake City in just over two weeks to represent the Thunder in the 2023 NBA All-Star game.

While there’s an argument to be made he should have been a starter in the event and announced last week, he instead makes it in as a reserve and was announced to the team today. Nonetheless, this is an extremely impressive accomplishment and further proves he’s the face of the franchise in Oklahoma City.

Gilgeous-Alexander now joins that special group of Thunder stars, many of which are future Hall of Famers. As the team continues to rebuild towards contention, he’s led them to a better than expected season and has been among the best players in the entire NBA.

The 24-year-old has broken out in the 2022-23 campaign, producing 30.8 points, 5.6 assist, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and just over one block per contest. He’s also been extremely efficient from the floor offensively and one of the best at getting to the line and converting. Defensively, he’s taken a huge step forward as well.

Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the most improved player in the NBA this season, while also emerging as a closer as he’s knocked down multiple game-winners and is top five in clutch points.

It wasn’t a surprise when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was announced to the 2023 NBA All-Star team today, but it is well deserved.