The NBA’s shiny new era has a face. Or at least, it should. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just pulled off a season for the history books: MVP, scoring title, Finals MVP, and a ring to cap it all off. The man didn’t just arrive; he kicked the door down, took a seat at the head of the table, and politely asked for seconds. But here’s the thing, not everyone’s ready to hand him the keys to the league just yet.
Enter Draymond Green, the NBA’s resident chaos agent and part-time podcast provocateur. On The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, Dray did what Dray does best: stirred the pot, left a few crumbs of doubt, and walked away like he didn’t just drop a grenade in the middle of the discourse. Because while the world’s ready to crown SGA as the guy, Draymond? Well… he’s not so sure.
Breaking: Draymond Green just questioned whether SGA is really the NBA’s next face. On the pod, Dray gave Shai his flowers- “Beautiful to see him take that jump… after jump… after jump”, but then hit us with the “I don’t know” when asked if SGA’s the league’s new standard-bearer. Not a full-on diss, not outright denial, but enough to make you side-eye your timeline. Is Draymond right? Is SGA’s game too quiet? Too efficient? Too… Canadian? The numbers scream yes! 32.7 PPG, MVP, Finals MVP! But the vibes? Depends who you ask.
Basketball, Herren, Supercup, DBB, Edel-Optics Arena, Canada gegen Neuseeland Shai Gilgeous-Alexander CAN *** Basketball, Men, Supercup, DBB, Edel Optics Arena, Canada vs New Zealand Shai Gilgeous Alexander CAN
Here’s the kicker: even if SGA is the face, OKC’s future might already be on borrowed time. Thanks to Adam Silver’s new apron rules, the Thunder’s dream of a dynasty could be dead on arrival. Baron Davis put it bluntly: “ I think their best chance to win another championship is next year because you’ll still have Chet and J-Dub making rookie money, which means you’re still allowed to keep your pieces.” That should be enough to justify why Davis said “Once that money kicks in, everything looks different.”
The CBA’s second apron is a financial straitjacket. No mid-level exceptions, no salary flexibility, and if OKC stays over the cap too long? Their draft picks get yeeted to the end of the first round. Silver sold this as “parity,” but let’s be real. It’s a death sentence for homegrown teams. SGA might be the present, but the league’s rules are rigged against him being the future.
So where does that leave us? SGA’s got the crown, the stats, and the swagger. But between Draymond’s skepticism and Silver’s spreadsheet warfare, OKC’s golden age might be shorter than we think. One thing’s for sure: the NBA’s never been messier. Or.. more entertaining.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co.’s rise is the story Kevin Durant & Co. left unfinished
Remember when KD bolted OKC because small markets couldn’t win? Yeah, about that… SGA just took the Thunder to the promised land without a superteam, without a big-market bailout, and without a single complaint about Oklahoma City’s nightlife. Kendrick Perkins put it best: “SGA don’t give a f*ck. He just wants to win; he wants to hoop.” No drama, no demands, just buckets and banners. Meanwhile, KD’s still searching for that elusive post-Warriors legacy. Funny how that works.
Mar 26, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) looks on against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The contrast is chef’s kiss. Durant’s game was built on three-point pyrotechnics (2.6 per game this season), while SGA’s dominance comes from mid-range mastery and relentless drives (just 1.3 threes per game for his career). One needed superteams; the other just needed a squad that “don’t do a damn thing but think about basketball.”
Perkins nailed it: “They’re not complaining about being in the city of Oklahoma. And SGA f*ckin’ is the best player in the world. I don’t give a damn what nobody says. He proved that you could win a championship without having to rely on the three-point shot.”
Turns out, OKC’s blueprint was right all along! KD just left before the ink dried. Now, with SGA leading a team that thrives on grit over glam, the Thunder aren’t just back. They’re a middle finger to every star who thought small markets couldn’t win big. The irony? The dynasty KD wanted might’ve been here all along… if he’d just stayed.
The post Draymond Green Casts Doubt on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Adam Silver Puts OKC’s Future In Jeopardy appeared first on EssentiallySports.
