The whispers started years ago — quiet at first, then louder. Could Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead a team to the championship?
Now, Gilgeous-Alexander officially has the NBA’s Michael Jordan MVP award for the 2024-2025 season, and those whispers have turned into a full-on roar.
They are also a harsh reminder for the Los Angeles Clippers of a trade that still haunts their championship hopes.
Trade That Sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander’s one season with the Clippers in 2018-19 gave a glimpse of his talent. As a rookie, he showed calm and control well beyond his age. His smooth offensive skills and tough defense stood out in a league not known for being forgiving to young guards.
He averaged 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, solid numbers that hinted at big things to come. Clippers fans, still feeling the end of the Lob City era, saw Gilgeous-Alexander as a building block — someone who could lead the next phase of the team.
But the Clippers had bigger plans. In the summer of 2019, they saw a shot to land Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. To get George, a key part of signing Leonard, the Clippers pulled off a massive trade that shook the league.
The worst trade of all-time? pic.twitter.com/CPSfssSKF1
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops)
They sent a massive haul to the Oklahoma City Thunder: Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks (four unprotected), one protected pick, and Gilgeous-Alexander.
At the time, some saw SGA as a throw-in, just part of the price for a win-now team. The goal was clear: pair George and Leonard and chase a title. Betting on a rising young guard didn’t seem worth the wait when a championship looked within reach.
But the result has been tough to swallow. Since that trade, the Clippers have fallen short over and over in the playoffs. And with George leaving L.A. to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2024 offseason, all the Clippers have to show for that gamble are memories of what could’ve been.
Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into a full-blown star in Oklahoma City. He took a young, talented Thunder team and made them contenders, leading them to the top of the Western Conference standings. His flashy scoring, clutch moments, and steady leadership have pushed OKC into the title race.
His MVP season isn’t just a win for him. It’s a clear reminder of how one trade changed the course of two franchises. For the Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander is the one that got away — a ghost they can’t shake as they keep chasing a championship without him.
