OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – OCTOBER 27: Jalen Williams #8 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the … [+]
Not only does the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the NBA All-Star break as a favorite to win a title this season while holding a 44-10 record, but the team will also have several of its individual players in the spotlight over the course of the three-day event. But as the top basketball talent in the world gathers in San Francisco for the weekend, all eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Not only is he the frontrunner to win MVP at this point, but this weekend marks a special milestone in his basketball career. On Thursday night, Converse unveiled Gilgeous-Alexander’s signature shoe — the SHAI 001. This will be his first signature sneaker and will put him in the very select group of players around the league who have their own. While it doesn’t release to the public for purchase until this fall, Gilgeous-Alexander will debut the SHAI 001 on the court this weekend. Furthermore, he will be making appearances at several activation events around San Francisco all weekend, as he and Converse take over the Bay Area. Not only is he a global star and one of the biggest names in the sport, but he’s also a fashion icon off the court with a signature shoe that will make waves. From a late lottery pick, to being traded after his rookie season, rising as a young star, earning his first NBA All-Star nod, finishing runner up for the MVP, to now being the frontrunner and earning a signature shoe, Gilgeous-Alexander’s ascension has been special.
It’s safe to say this is one of the biggest weekends of Gilgeous-Alexander’s career, with another significant milestone checked off the list.
Gilgeous-Alexander will be joined by Jalen Williams this weekend in San Francisco as well. The third-year player earned his first NBA All-Star nod this season, making him one of just 24 players to get the honor. This is well-deserved, especially given how dominant Oklahoma City has been even in the absence of Chet Holmgren. Williams has been required to step up as a bonafide second star, carrying a significant load on the offensive end while also emerging as one of the top defenders in the league. He’s played up and down the rotation, playing minutes at al five positions on both ends of the floor to this point. His versatility and two-way impact on a team that is on pace to win upwards of 65 games has been rewarded with a trip to San Francisco. Furthermore, he will get the chance to play against Gilgeous-Alexander in the opening contest of the new format being unveiled this weekend, as four teams play a mini-tournament to determine a winner.
The 24 players named NBA All-Stars will make up three of those four teams on eight-man rosters, with the fourth team being comprised of the winning Castrol Rising Stars roster. The winner of the tournament overall will ultimately have to win two rounds to be crowned the champion. For each game, the winner will be the first team to reach or surpass 40 points.
To watch Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams on Sunday night, tune into TNT at 7:00 p.m. CT for the start of tournament coverage.
Lastly, Cason Wallace earned a trip to San Francisco as part of the pool of young players participating in aforementioned Castrol Rising Stars. Just like he did last season as a rookie, Wallace once again was tabbed as a player who has star upside and was given the chance to come back and compete in this challenge as a sophomore. Players who are part of this event are considered the top first and second-year NBA players, and compete alongside NBA G League standouts. Wallace won’t be able to participate in this event — which is set to take place on Friday night — but he did still join his Rising Stars teammates for practice on Friday morning and spoke to the media about his season thus far and earning this honor for the second time.
Again, prior to Wallace’s injury keeping him out of festivities this weekend, Oklahoma City was set up to have a member of its roster in upwards of three of the four teams competing in the premier Sunday nightevent. Wallace’s Rising Stars team would have had to win that challenge on Friday night — which would have been a tough task — and then get past the first round of Sunday’s mini-tournament, but there was even a world in which a pair of Thunder teammates would be going head-to-head in the championship of the NBA All-Star Game. Instead, Wallace will continue to recover from injury and look to make a return in the coming weeks as the Thunder continues its pursuit for a championship this season.
Nobody from the Thunder roster was selected to any of the Saturday night events, meaning no Isaiah Joe in the 3-point contest or any other representatives in the dunk contest or skills competition. For Thunder fans, Sunday night will be the only opportunity to see players on the OKC roster compete. But all throughout the weekend, three different members of the team will be in San Francisco at various events. This is especially true for Gilgeous-Alexander, who will be the star of the weekend with the SHAI 001 from Converse leaving an imprint on the city.
