Following the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made headlines with a lighthearted reference to a viral photo of himself smiling. In an Instagram post after the Thunder's elimination of the Nuggets, he remarked, 'They thought I was whiling when I was smiling.' This comment drew attention after an incident in which he was seen smiling while departing the court after a 113-104 loss in Game 3, a defeat that placed the Thunder in a 2-1 deficit in the playoff series.

In his post-game comments to reporters, Gilgeous-Alexander elaborated on the circumstances around the incident. 'Some fans were taunting me,' he shared. 'I know how the game goes; I know how life is. It's easy to taunt when you're up, and I don’t ever want to show them that I'm defeated or mad or anything like that. Nothing's written. The series is not over, and we have a lot to be optimistic about.' His perspective reflects a mature understanding of the competitive nature of sports and the psychological aspects involved.

Gilgeous-Alexander's performance continued to rise throughout the series, culminating in an impressive average of 30.8 points and 5.8 assists per game over the last four contests. His noteworthy contributions included a standout 35-point game during Oklahoma City’s dominant 125-93 victory in Game 7. Additionally, he notched four assists and three steals, showcasing his versatility by shooting an effective 12-of-19 from the field. With this victory, the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, where they will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves in pursuit of a spot in the NBA Finals.