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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Had Selfless Move for Former Teammate Right After Huge Performance
In what will surely be another feather in the cap for his MVP case, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 48 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-107 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. But Gilgeous-Alexander wasn't thinking about his big performance after the win.
Instead, he was thinking about one of his former Thunder teammates, forward Lindy Waters III. Waters, who was traded to the Golden State Warriors on the night of the NBA draft in June of 2024, then dealt another time as a part of the Warriors' Jimmy Butler acquisition in February, has experienced quite a whirlwind in the last several months.
And Gilgeous-Alexander, as well as Thunder teammates Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams, were thinking of—and immediately approached—Waters after the game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams immediately go to former teammate Lindy Waters after the game.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) March 16, 2025
Looks like SGA tried to call him over for the postgame interview.
And that wasn't all.
Gilgeous-Alexander also attempted to get Waters to join the Thunder for one of their now-infamous postgame interviews, calling out for his former teammate to join him as Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo approached for the interview.
What a gesture from the Thunder star, who is at the top of his game in more ways than one.
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Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.