Jan 29, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after being called for a foul against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

ESPN Star's Bold Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Statement After Thunder-Wolves Game 2

Originally posted on New Orleans Pelicans on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated May 23, 2025 4:59 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up a dominant Game 2 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder are now just two wins away from making their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, and MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is quickly cementing himself in Oklahoma City history.

There have been plenty of discussions around the possibility of Gilgeous-Alexander becoming the greatest player in Thunder history if he can take them to a championship, and his performance in Game 2 certainly helped his case.

In Game 2's win, Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 38 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals on 12-21 shooting from the field, and he is just a handful of wins away from passing Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

ESPN analyst and former New Orleans Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins shared his bold take on Gilgeous-Alexander after Game 2, calling him the greatest Thunder player of all time.

"Let's talk about SGA. The greatest Thunder of all time," Perkins said. "He already joined the company of Michael Jordan this year... Now he holds up the MVP trophy. And now he's on his way to going to the NBA Finals, and he's going to win the NBA championship, and he's going to become Finals MVP.

"We're watching a young man right now who is the best perimeter player in the game of basketball on the offensive end. Right now, the way that he's playing, he's unguardable. It's not gonna stop."

Kendrick Perkins says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the greatest Thunder player of all time

Agree or disagree with Perk?

(via @ESPNNBA)

pic.twitter.com/xmXDoZPwWH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 23, 2025

Gilgeous-Alexander has steadily improved every season since entering the NBA in 2018, and of course, getting traded to the Thunder jump-started his incredible career path. The newest NBA MVP has already led the Thunder to one of the best regular-season campaigns in league history and is now just six wins away from a championship.

This article first appeared on New Orleans Pelicans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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