"I Didn't Play Basketball Just To Win One Time": Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Talks About Goal Of Winning Multiple Championships

This past June, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captured the first NBA championship of his career. A month later, he turned 27. For SGA’s competition, this is bad news: The reigning MVP has youth on his side, and he’s just getting started.

In a recent media availability, Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear that one NBA title was not his ultimate goal. The way that the Thunder star described it, he’d just cleared Level 1 in a game that spans years, perhaps even decades.

“A step in the right direction for sure,” SGA said of the Thunder’s 2025 title win. “All of the guys that I study, idolize, look up to, get to that level multiple times. There’s still a lot of work to do.”

For those who aren’t in the know, Gilgeous-Alexander has gone on record as saying that the late Kobe Bryant is his favorite player of all time. In his illustrious 20-year NBA career, Bryant won the Larry O’Brien trophy five times. Each year that Bryant captured the championship, he played an integral role in the title run, whether as Shaquille O’Neal’s partner or Pau Gasol’s multilingual leader.

In this regard, SGA has done a masterful job of replicating Bryant’s example. As the anchor of the young, athletic Thunder team, Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone offensively and led the charge in overcoming a feisty Indiana Pacers squad.

But, after the championship parade, late-night TV appearances, and every other celebratory event in honor of the Thunder’s achievement, SGA remains hungry.

“I didn’t play basketball just to win one time and be done,” he told reporters.

Does the Thunder have the pieces to pull off multiple championship wins in the near future? To OKC’s credit, they have essentially retained the roster that conquered the NBA’s summit. This past offseason, Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year extension with the Thunder; also re-signed were Jalen Williams (five years), Chet Holmgren (five years), Jaylin Williams (three years), and Ajay Mitchell (three years).

Continuity is a key ingredient of dynasties in the making. As the Thunder embark on their title retention bid in 2025-26, Gilgeous-Alexander will have the advantage of working with the same crew that accompanied him on his ascent to the mountaintop. Until further notice, SGA and the Thunder are head and shoulders above everyone else.