The time has finally come for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. After a lot of anticipation, these two teams will finally kick off the NBA Finals to determine which team will come out as this year's NBA champions.
The Thunder finished with the best record in the entire league during the regular season (68-14), which means that they have home-court advantage over the Pacers in this best-of-seven series.
NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took the time to attend to the home fans at Paycom Center ahead of Game 1 on Thursday. The 26-year-old signed autographs for Thunder supporters for seven minutes straight, which is a gesture that drew a lot of praise from the fans on social media.
"Respect ð¤ð»ð¯" a comment on Instagram read.
"Good guy Shai," said another.
"He’s a good dude," a fan wrote.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder
Getty Images
"Dope ð¥ Move by SGA," a reaction read.
"This guy special much love for the whole okc team ❤️" another said.
"Most humble superstar in the league," declared a user.
Gilgeous-Alexander was more than happy to interact with the fans for an extended period before the game, but something about his demeanor indicated that he's totally locked in for the upcoming matchup.
The Thunder need their superstar to be at his best on Thursday night as they look to draw first blood in this series. OKC may be the favorites to win Game 1, but there is no doubt that the Pacers will do everything in their power to upset the odds.