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PORTLAND, Ore. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he wants to finish his career knowing he gave basketball everything he had. In a video shared Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard said that is the thought he carries into every practice, workout, and game.
An interviewer had asked what gets him going. Some players watch their highlights, the interviewer said, while others listen to criticism because it makes them angry. Gilgeous-Alexander said he thinks about what he will be able to say when his career is over.
“When I’m done with my career, I want to be able to say I gave it everything I had,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I want no regrets.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander On Effort And Results
That applies to games with a 40-point margin and ones that stay close until the end, he said, regardless of who wins. He said putting everything into each of those days is how he gets the most from his career.
Once he leaves the court and goes home, Gilgeous-Alexander said, he is the same person after a win or a loss. He said allowing himself to change with those results would keep him from being at his best.
Two Consecutive MVP Awards For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
On May 17, he won the MVP award for a second straight season. The NBA said he was the first guard to average at least 30 points while shooting at least 55% from the field in a season. His averages were 31.1 points on 55.3% shooting.
Oklahoma City finished 64-18, the league’s best record. Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 20 points in all 68 games he played and was named Clutch Player of the Year.
Entering Tuesday, Gilgeous-Alexander was averaging 29.9 points through 10 games, and Oklahoma City was 8-2 after four straight wins. The Thunder were in Portland to open two consecutive games against the Portland Trail Blazers, with the second set for Wednesday.
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