Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently took to Instagram to reflect on a moment that went viral following the Oklahoma City Thunder's elimination of the Denver Nuggets from the playoffs. In his post, he humorously noted, 'They thought I was whyling when I was smiling,' in reference to a photo of himself smiling while walking off the court after the Thunder's 113-104 loss to Denver in Game 3.

After a game that placed Oklahoma City at a 2-1 deficit in the series, Gilgeous-Alexander discussed the taunts he received from fans during the match. 'I know how the game goes, I know how life is,' he remarked to reporters. '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.'

The three-time All-Star demonstrated resilience throughout the series, averaging 30.8 points and 5.8 assists per game over the last four matchups. His performance peaked during a decisive Game 7, where he contributed 35 points, four assists, and three steals, shooting an impressive 12-of-19 from the field in Oklahoma City's commanding 125-93 victory. The win propelled the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, where they will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves for a chance to advance to the NBA Finals.