The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, dismantling the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
The victory has intensified discussions about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s place in franchise history, with some wondering if a championship could cement him as the greatest Thunder player ever.
That conversation gained serious momentum after Game 2, when ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins made his position crystal clear with a bold proclamation about the star guard’s legacy.
“Let’s talk about SGA. The greatest Thunder of all time. He already joined the company of Michael Jordan this year… Now he holds up the MVP trophy. And now he’s on his way to going to the NBA Finals, and he’s going to win the NBA championship, and he’s going to become Finals MVP,” Perkins said on NBA TODAY. “We’re watching a young man right now who is the best perimeter player in the game of basketball on the offensive end. Right now, the way that he’s playing, he’s unguardable. It’s not gonna stop.”
Kendrick Perkins says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the greatest Thunder player of all time 👀
Agree or disagree with Perk? 🤔
(via @ESPNNBA)
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 23, 2025
The numbers from Game 2 certainly support Perkins’ enthusiasm.
Gilgeous-Alexander torched Minnesota for 38 points while adding eight assists and three steals on an efficient 12-for-21 shooting night.
His performance pushed the Thunder within two victories of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.
What makes this run particularly compelling is how Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved since arriving in Oklahoma City.
The 2018 draft pick transformed his career after the trade from Los Angeles, developing into an MVP-caliber talent who led one of the most impressive regular seasons in franchise history.
Now he stands on the precipice of something special.
Six more wins separate Gilgeous-Alexander from an NBA championship, a feat that would undoubtedly strengthen his case in the ongoing debate about Thunder greatness.
With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook previously holding that conversation, the current star guard might be authoring the final chapter that settles the argument once and for all.
NEXT: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes Thunder Playoff History On Thursday
