After the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took to Instagram to address the recent viral photo of him smiling during the challenging moments of Game 3. In his caption, he noted, 'They thought I was whyling when I was smiling.' This statement sheds light on his perspective following the Thunder's 113-104 defeat, which put them at a 2-1 series deficit.

In a post-game interview, Gilgeous-Alexander explained the circumstances surrounding the smile, mentioning that some fans had been taunting him. He expressed, '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.' He conveyed a sense of optimism about the series, stating, 'Nothing's written. The series is not over and we have a lot to be optimistic about.'

The three-time All-Star demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion, averaging 30.8 points and 5.8 assists per game over the final four games of the series. This performance culminated in an impressive 35-point outing during Oklahoma City's commanding 125-93 victory in Game 7. Gilgeous-Alexander's contributions included four assists and three steals, with an efficient shooting performance of 12-of-19 from the field. With this victory, the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, setting up a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves for a chance to secure a spot in the NBA Finals.