OKC Thunder Rookie Offers High Praise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander achieved a historic season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading the league in scoring and winning NBA MVP honors after a 68-win campaign. He secured additional MVP awards in both the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals, claiming his first championship trophy. The superstar further solidified his status by signing the NBA's largest annual contract, appearing on the NBA 2K cover, and launching his debut signature shoe line during the season.

Rookie Nikola Topic, selected 12th in the 2024 NBA Draft, observed Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance firsthand while rehabbing an ACL injury that sidelined him all season. Topic described the experience as "amazing," emphasizing that witnessing Gilgeous-Alexander's daily work ethic demonstrated why his excellence was no accident. The guard specifically highlighted the value of watching the MVP-caliber player from the bench during games and workouts.

After 14 months of ACL recovery dating to just before his draft selection, Topic recently participated in four Summer League games for the Thunder. His rookie season will be closely scrutinized, with Oklahoma City viewing him as a long-term developmental prospect capable of providing bench playmaking. Though immediate impact isn't prioritized, his growth trajectory remains highly promising to the franchise.