Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently shared a spirited remark in an Instagram post, referencing a photo of himself smiling after the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff triumph over the Denver Nuggets. In the caption, he noted, 'They thought I was wyling when I was smiling.' This comment followed a controversial moment when he was seen smiling while exiting the court after the Thunder's Game 3 defeat, which saw them trailing in the series with a 2-1 deficit.

In a post-game discussion with reporters, Gilgeous-Alexander clarified the context of his demeanor, attributing his smile to the nature of competitive sports. 'Some fans were taunting me,' he explained. '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.'

The three-time All-Star displayed remarkable performance throughout the playoff series, averaging 30.8 points and 5.8 assists per game over the final four contests. He notably scored 35 points in the Thunder's dominating 125-93 victory in Game 7, contributing four assists and three steals, and shooting 12-of-19 from the field. This victory marked Oklahoma City's advancement 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.