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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes Bench Statement After Recent Win, 'We Have No Bench'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ryan Brooks | Last updated Dec 27, 2024 5:37 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been special this season. They have yet to play a game fully healthy, yet they've posted a 24-5 record.

Despite one of their best three players having been out for a month and set to miss another couple of months, they are riding a nine-game win streak.

Having the luxury of an MVP-caliber player being on the roster is quite beneficial, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of superb this season, as has been the case in recent history.

Still, being without Chet Holmgren for this long and being able to maintain the top seed in a deeply talented conference has been incredible for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City having built a playstyle and culture that promotes every player finding success and playing a big role in each result is paying off.

After winning 57 games a season ago, the Thunder added Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso in the offseason. They lost just Josh Giddey in doing so. This was a clear roster upgrade, but the way Gilgeous-Alexander puts it, it was much more than that.

"It doesn't feel like we have a bench, to be honest," Gilgeous-Alexander explained. "It feels like we have two lineups. When one lineup isn't working, we go a different lineup, and that lineup figures it out. We course-correct. We get the car back on the road.

"We look at it like we have 12 to 14 guys every night that can effect and change the game, no matter who is out there, no matter who we play against. That's how we attack the game."

The Thunder have so much depth they can go to different lineups when one isn't working, and they've got confidence the new lineup can right the ship.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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