Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently addressed a widely circulated photograph of himself smiling in an Instagram post, following the Oklahoma City Thunder's victory over the Denver Nuggets in their playoff series. In the caption, he noted, 'They thought I was whyling when I was smiling.' This remark came after a significant emotional moment in Game 3, wherein Gilgeous-Alexander was observed smiling as he exited the court after the Thunder's 113-104 loss to Denver, which placed the team in a 2-1 series deficit.

Explaining his demeanor, Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters post-game, 'Some fans were taunting me. 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 positive outlook proved prescient as he averaged 30.8 points and 5.8 assists per game in the final four contests of the series.

Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a standout performance in Game 7, contributing 35 points to the Thunder's dominant 125-93 victory over the Nuggets. He also recorded four assists and three steals, shooting an impressive 12-of-19 from the field. As a result of this series win, the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, where they will compete against the Minnesota Timberwolves for a chance to reach the NBA Finals.