Gilgeous-Alexander's All-Star Bid is Catalyst for New Thunder Era

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finally broke through the All-Star wall.

In part to his career defining season, SGA broke the Oklahoma City Thunder drought of missing the event, and now a new streak has begun. With the 24-year-old still growing as a player there’s no reason for him not to be on the brink of being a perennial All- Star. Behind him are other players in OKC who are itching with potential to also join the All-Star club.

Gilgeous-Alexander is near the top of the league in scoring with his 30.8 points per game, but he also gets the job done efficiently and while providing highlights for the rest of his unit.

Now that Gilgeous-Alexander has broken through, the question now becomes, who’s next? How many could have the chance to make it in a season?

The Thunder roster is plush with young talent with high ceilings, some who are exceeding expectations and others who haven’t yet begun to show what they could bring in the future. The Thunder have two top-10 picks on their roster, who have extremely high ceilings and potential.

Josh Giddey will make is second appearance in the Rising Stars Challenge this weekend, and continue to push his expectations forward as he earns more national recognition. This season Giddey is averaging 16.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but his abilities also reach into his feel for the game and passing abilities.

Giddey continues to earn more recognition outside of Oklahoma City and continues to make a resume for himself. However with guard play at an all-time best, especially in the Western Conference, it is an uphill battle for he to break into the conversation, but his constant improvement helps put him in position.

Perhaps the player with the most hype and expectation to be a future All-Star outside of SGA hasn’t played a minute in an OKC uniform, yet. Chet Holmgren, the most recent No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, was injured in a pro-am during the offseason, and will not make his debut in Oklahoma City until the 2023-24 campaign.

Despite that the lanky big man has all the potential to be a great piece in OKC and make waves in the NBA. He showcased it in his lone college season, and will have the chance to showcase it yet again next year.

While other members of the Thunder could make an All-Star caliber push, in all likelihood the Thunder's cap is one or two in a given game, but in the future, big things could come from the Oklahoma City core and the All-Star Game is just the beginning.

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