Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals Lakers-themed inspiration before G2

The Los Angeles Lakers have unsurprisingly found their way into conversations surrounding the 2025 NBA Finals.

It’s hard to stay out of the spotlight as a franchise when you’ve housed timeless legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe Bryant. For as long as the game of basketball is being played, these names are going to be brought up by players, coaches, analysts, and fans alike.

Kobe came up on Saturday as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, answered questions at the podium ahead of a pivotal Game 2 versus the Indiana Pacers.

“That’s probably my favorite player of all time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, referring to Bryant (per ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly).

“I never got the chance to meet him… but not only me, for kids all across the world, his influence has gone through the roof and his legacy will be remembered forever because of the competitor and the basketball player that he was. Hopefully, I’m somewhere close to that as a basketball player one day. But he was a special talent, special person, and God rest his soul.”

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Gilgeous-Alexander channeled his inner mamba mentality in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, at least statistically speaking. SGA dropped 38 points, on 14–for-30 from the field, 3-for-6 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. His 38 points were the third-most in an NBA Finals debut behind Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson (48 points in 2001) and Lakers legend George Mikan (42 points in 1949).

Gilgeous-Alexander also contributed five rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 40 minutes of action versus Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers.

The Thunder will look to avoid a harrowing 2-0 deficit in the series when Game 2 tips off on Sunday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

SGA promises to be his usual self and drop another 30-plus, but he’ll need a more potent running mate than he had in Game 1. Jalen Williams was OKC’s second-leading scorer with 17 points, but he wasn’t efficient (6-for-19 FG), and Chet Holmgren was held to six points.

Even Kobe needed worthy sidekicks (Shaquille O’Neal, Pau Gasol) to win rings, and Gilgeous-Alexander faces a similar situation as he stares down a Pacers squad looking like it’s blessed by something like destiny or witchcraft.

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