Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of sensational this year. The 2025 NBA MVP averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in the regular season. He also helped the Oklahoma City Thunder to an outstanding, NBA best, 68-14 record.
Currently, he’s leading the Thunder as they compete against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. But this great achievement didn’t happen overnight. It all started in 2019, when the Los Angeles Clippers dealt the future superstar in one of the most talked-about trades in the NBA.
Let’s revisit why Gilgeous-Alexander was traded in the first place.
What the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Trade Looked Like
Gilgeous-Alexander entered the NBA on June 21, 2018, when the Charlotte Hornets drafted him No. 11 overall out of Kentucky. He never suited up for them, as he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same day.
His stint with the Clippers lasted just one year.
In July 2019, the Clippers made a blockbuster move to acquire superstar Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. To get him, they had to pay a steep price.
The Clippers traded Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari to OKC, but the haul didn’t stop there. They also gave up a handful of future picks: first-rounders in 2021, 2022, 2023 (protected), 2024, and 2026, along with first-round pick swaps in 2023 and 2025.
Yes, that’s seven first-round picks or pick swaps, along with two productive players, just to land George.
Why Did the Clippers Trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
In his lone season with the Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 10.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds — decent numbers for a rookie, but not game-changing.
Meanwhile, the Clippers were eliminated in the First Round of the 2018-19 playoffs by the Golden State Warriors. Eager to become title contenders the following season, they went all in.
That summer, they not only got a nine-time NBA All-Star in George — who had averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists the previous season — but also signed two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard. Everyone thought the duo could help the Clippers win a championship.
Initially, it looked promising: In 2019-20, the team reached the second round. In 2020-21, they made it to the Western Conference Finals. However, injuries soon derailed the plan.
Clippers ELIMINATED AGAIN
Paul George trade gotta be the worst in NBA HISTORY 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/npYFVyga2G
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 4, 2025
 Health became a recurring issue for George, with an elbow injury limiting him to just 31 games during the 2021-22 season and knee injuries plaguing him throughout 2022-23. Eventually, the Clippers traded George following the 2023-24 season to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he has also struggled with injuries.
Is This the Worst Trade Decision in Clippers History?
In Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed into a star almost immediately. In his first season with the Thunder, he averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, helping the team reach the playoffs.
His numbers have climbed year by year. Now, he’s averaging 30.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in the 2024-25 postseason while leading OKC to the NBA Finals.
On the flip side, the Clippers, despite their star-studded roster, haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since the trade.
Many now look back at the 2019 trade as one of the worst in franchise history and wonder what could have been if the Clippers had held on to Gilgeous-Alexander. He may have developed alongside Leonard, potentially building a dynasty in L.A. Instead, they mortgaged their future for a brief window that never fully opened.
