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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has quickly cemented himself as one of Canada’s biggest basketball stars ever, but don’t expect him to play for Canada’s team.
SGA is considered by many to be the greatest Canadian basketball player since Steve Nash, with some suggesting that his 2025 NBA Championship win has allowed him to eclipse Nash.
With Canada having just one NBA team, the Toronto Raptors, many hoped that Gilgeous-Alexander would one day play for them. But don’t expect that to happen any time soon.
Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won’t play for the Toronto Raptors
Speaking with Tyrese Maxey’s father, Tyrone, Vaughn Alexander, the father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, explained why OKC is the perfect fit for him as a team.
He noted that Oklahoma City has no distractions, and SGA just wants to play basketball. Compared to other cities or even Toronto, where family members might ask him for free tickets, Shai prefers being in OKC.
“People ask, ‘What does Shai do in OKC?’ He loves it because all Shai wants to do is hoop. It’s a perfect fit. As opposed to being somewhere where there’s nightlife.
“Or, in Toronto, everybody is going to be on your a– saying, ‘Yo, give me tickets, give me this, that!’ Shai is perfect where he is in OKC.
Vaughn Alexander added that he doesn’t expect Shai to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for any reason outside of politics or an unexpected fracture in their relationship.
“I don’t think he’ll ever leave unless politics or something happens. That’s how the NBA works. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has established dominant legacy with OKC Thunder
Very few considered the possibility of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming the superstar he is today when he was sent to the Thunder in 2019 as part of the Paul George trade.
But within just six years, Shai managed to earn his first All-Star and All-NBA nominations, win two MVPs, and win the NBA Championship and Finals MVP award.
Given the wealth of talent the Thunder have had in their history, Gilgeous-Alexander being the superstar that led them to their first championship is truly astonishing.
And if he stays with the team for the rest of his career, he will undoubtedly retire as the greatest player in the history of the franchise.
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