SGA had a chip on his shoulder well before latest MVP prediction slight

Thunderous Intentions highlights that Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was already motivated long before being overlooked in the latest NBA general managers' preseason MVP prediction survey. Former Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony stated on his podcast that the team's elimination by the San Antonio Spurs in last season's Western Conference finals provided ample motivation for Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates.

The article also reports that Gilgeous-Alexander worked over the offseason to expand his offensive repertoire as an off-ball scoring threat. In three preseason appearances, he averaged 16.3 points while shooting 65.2 percent from the floor, with writer Mark Nilon suggesting the guard is primed to surpass outside expectations in the 2026-27 campaign.