Kendrick Perkins outlines his reasons for considering the 2025 Thunder team as the greatest in the franchise's history.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has firmly stood by his claim that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the greatest Oklahoma City Thunder player in the franchise's history. After the Thunder clinched their spot in the NBA Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Perkins expressed his conviction that if Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team to a championship, he will secure a place among the game's elite.
In an interview with ESPN's NBA Today, Perkins explained his reasoning for this selection. He believes that if Gilgeous-Alexander secures the scoring title, the MVP, and an NBA championship in the same season, he will join a select group of players who have achieved such rare accomplishments[1].
Perkins also emphasized Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency and leadership, noting his uncanny ability to produce over 30 points on a consistent basis while maintaining a field goal percentage of over 50%[1][3]. By demonstrating his prowess under intense pressure, Gilgeous-Alexander is setting himself up to be acknowledged as one of the game's genuine superstars, joining the ranks of legends such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo[1].
In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander's individual achievements, Perkins believes the current Thunder team possesses more depth than the 2012 squad, which featured Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. He credits the acquisition of players such as Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, who provide robust defense, and Jalen Williams, who was instrumental in the Thunder's win over the Denver Nuggets, for the team's improved depth[3].
The Thunder now advance to the NBA Finals with a 12-4 record. As they prepare for the challenging matchup, Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates will aim to cement their legacy in the sport while potentially confirming Perkins' assessment that Gilgeous-Alexander is destined to be remembered as the greatest player in Thunder history.
[1] "SGA potentially joining exclusive company: Top NBA players to win MVP, scoring title, NBA championship in same season" - Oxford Basketball, www.oxfordbasketball.com/sga-exclusive-company.
[3] "Thunder's defensive prowess and depth: Key factors in their success this season" - NBA.com, www.nba.com/thunder/depth-defense-key-factors-thunder-success.
If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secures the NBA championship for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he may join an exclusive group of players who have achieved the MVP, scoring title, and NBA championship in a single season. In the upcoming playoffs and championship, Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates will aim to cement their legacy in the sport of basketball, further solidifying the analyst Kendrick Perkins' claim that Gilgeous-Alexander is the greatest player in the Oklahoma City Thunder's history.
