There was a lot of pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entering Game 7 on Sunday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder star was facing a daunting task as he looked to lead his team to victory against the Denver Nuggets in their winner-take-all clash.
Gilgeous-Alexander did just that behind another incredible performance. He dropped a game-high 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting, three rebounds, four assists, three steals, a block and zero turnovers, leading OKC to a convincing 125-93 blowout win.
Gilgeous-Alexander took to Instagram just hours after the final buzzer to send a clear message. The two-time All-NBA guard took a not-so-veiled shot at his naysayers with a strong nine-word statement.
"They thought I was whyling when I was smiling," Gilgeous-Alexander wrote, sharing some of his favorite photos from what turned out to be an epic series.
For those that require context, "whyling" is a relatively recent slang term that is short for "wilding." The Thunder star was referencing a viral photo of himself with a big smile on his face right after OKC lost in Game 3.
As it turns out, Gilgeous-Alexander knew exactly what he was doing at that moment. His defiant smile was an indication of his intention to still come out of the series despite the tough loss.
The three-time All-Star delivered on that bold promise on Sunday with a series-clinching win against Jokic and Co.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0), and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2).
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0), and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2).
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It's the Minnesota Timberwolves that are up next for Gilgeous-Alexander and Co., with Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals scheduled for Tuesday night. The Thunder get just one day of rest before going to war against Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, but they will be hoping that their momentum from their Game 7 win against Denver carries over to the West Finals.