It is fair to say that Gilgeous-Alexander has eclipsed the highest peak that George ever hit as a player in the NBA. That alone made this trade a clear-cut victory for the Thunder. The MVP candidate was asked about how potentially facing the team who discarded him would make motivate him. Gilgeous-Alexander was blunt in his response.

Like a pick-your-own-adventure book, either possibility ensures juicy storylines to follow. In Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's case, it'll either be against his direct competition for the MVP award or against his old squad that shipped him in one of the most shocking NBA trades in recent history.

The Oklahoma City Thunder held playoff practice on Friday. They only need to wait one more day until they find out their Round 2 opponent for the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Denver Nuggets will host the LA Clippers for Game 7 of their first-round series on Saturday.