Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals Unexpected Secrets Ahead of Clippers Showdown

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to get traded away and then show your former team that they might’ve made a colossal mistake? Well, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knows that story all too well—and he’s not shy about letting you in on it. Once a promising rookie trying to find his footing with the Los Angeles Clippers, Shai was packed off to the Oklahoma City Thunder in one of the most head-scratching trades you’ll ever hear about. But here’s the kicker: instead of letting that setback define him, he turned it into fuel, becoming the heartbeat of the Thunder, winning MVPs, Finals MVPs, and carrying his team toward championship glory. Every time he laces up against the Clippers, you can bet there’s a little extra fire—because for Shai, it’s not just basketball, it’s personal. Let’s dive into how a young player’s journey from overlooked to outright indispensable rewrote the script for OKC—and maybe, just maybe, left the Clippers regretting their move.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Clippers — (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Today, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is one of the most talked-about and respected players in the NBA.

But only a few years ago, he was just a young rookie looking to make a name for himself with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The team gave up on him and traded him away, and Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t forgotten that.

He says that he still gets fired up playing against his former team.

“The Clippers came into town and I would be lying to you if I tell you I didn’t get up to play the Clippers every time, for obvious reasons… I wanted to make sure when it’s all said and done, OKC won the trade,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Shai:

“The Clippers came into town and I would be lying to you if I tell you I didn't get up to play the Clippers every time, for obvious reasons… I wanted to make sure when it’s all said and done, OKC won the trade.”

(h/t @CAlmanza1007)pic.twitter.com/VTsLlhU27z

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 17, 2025

During his sole season with the Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander put up 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

He gained a lot of attention as a rookie, and most teams would have held onto him.

But when Los Angeles had a chance to get Paul George from the Thunder, they went for it and created one of the most memorable and questionable trades of all time.

With that, Gilgeous-Alexander came to OKC along with a ton of future draft picks.

The rest, as they say, is history, and it helped put the Thunder on the path they are on now.

Since then, Gilgeous-Alexander has become the most important player for his team, earning MVP, Finals MVP, and more.

He is a huge reason why they are now champions, attempting to win back-to-back titles.

Gilgeous-Alexander understands why the Clippers sent him away, but he obviously hasn’t forgotten.

They turned him into the player he is now, in more ways than one.

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