Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gestures to the crowd as the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their first NBA Finals title win with a champions parade throughout downtown Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

'It is Not the Most Important Thing to Me' – Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops Truth Bomb on Achieving Basketball Success

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Oct 14, 2025 6:52 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at the pinnacle of his NBA career. He just won his first Larry O’Brien trophy, Finals MVP, and regular season MVP last season, and he just turned 27 years old.

Speaking in a recent interview with GQ, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard revealed that basketball is not his top priority and that he is willing to walk away from the game to spend more time with his child.

“No matter what happens, I know that basketball is not the most important thing to me. It takes the pressure off the game knowing that I have something else that means more, that I hold dear to my heart. It’s been the reason why I’m so at peace,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Jun 24, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, holds up a heart shape with his hands for fans during the Oklahoma City Thunder Champions parade. Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

“I won’t want to miss that much of my kid’s life,” he added. “I won’t want to be away and miss his first basketball game every year, his first soccer game, football game, piano lesson, chess lesson, whatever it is… As soon as that happens, I’ll be on the first ship out.”

Oklahoma City Thunder News: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anointed as Canada’s GOAT by former two-time MVP

In the same GQ interview, Steve Nash labeled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the greatest Canadian player of all time for his contributions to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Canadian national team.

May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against the Denver Nuggets in the second half during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

“He’s going to be an inspiring figure for many generations of Canadians to come,” Nash said about Gilgeous-Alexander. “I have no problem anointing him the greatest Canadian player ever.”

Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder will commence their title defense against the Houston Rockets on October 21st.