Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reshaped training after loss to Victor Wembanyama

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reshaped his offseason training regimen and offensive approach after the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a Western Conference finals series, basketusa.com reported. The defensive scheme deployed by San Antonio, anchored by Wembanyama’s length near the rim, forced the guard to seek new solutions for attacking the paint.

Frustration Fuels Summer Workouts Following Playoff Exit

The elimination left an immediate mark on the Thunder star. Once the New York Knicks captured the title, Gilgeous-Alexander contacted his long-time trainer, Nem Ilic, to express his discontent with watching the remainder of the postseason from home. “I’m pissed. Gilgeous-Alexander quickly demanded to resume training, telling his trainer that he needed to return to work and elevate his game.”

The resulting summer program featured grueling physical conditioning, including demanding hill sprints. Beyond general athletic improvement, however, the workouts were directly tailored to solve the defensive puzzles presented by the Spurs during the spring series.

San Antonio Spurs Defense Changes the Math in the Paint

According to Ilic, San Antonio contained Gilgeous-Alexander more effectively than most opponents by using Wembanyama's unique defensive positioning. “With the size of the Spurs and the luxury of having Wemby who essentially waits near the rim, that changes things.”

The French center’s impact on traditional driving lanes stood out sharply during the series. Ilic noted that the deployment was entirely unconventional, stating that he had never witnessed so many players drive into the key only to be forced to kick the ball back out. “What he does down there is different,” Ilic said.

Off-Ball Movement and Strenuous Conditioning

Having previously adapted to Wembanyama’s offensive prowess, the Thunder guard spent the summer engineering ways to counter the Spur’s rim protection. One primary adjustment involves expanding his repertoire away from the basketball.

By operating further from the ball, Gilgeous-Alexander aims to disrupt set defenses that previously focused on his isolation dribbling. The physical preparation for this shift centered on endurance running and extensive work coming off screens.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Year-by-Year Statistics

Gilgeous-Alexander’s regular-season production reflects a sustained climb toward elite offensive efficiency prior to the conference finals defeat:

• 2018-19 (LAC): 82 games, 26:31 minutes, 47.6% FG, 36.7% 3PT, 80.0% FT, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 10.8 points
• 2019-20 (OKC): 70 games, 34:42 minutes, 47.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 80.7% FT, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 19.0 points
• 2020-21 (OKC): 35 games, 33:43 minutes, 50.8% FG, 41.8% 3PT, 80.8% FT, 4.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 23.7 points
• 2021-22 (OKC): 56 games, 34:41 minutes, 45.3% FG, 30.0% 3PT, 81.0% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 24.5 points
• 2022-23 (OKC): 68 games, 35:32 minutes, 51.0% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 90.5% FT, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 31.4 points
• 2023-24 (OKC): 75 games, 34:02 minutes, 53.5% FG, 35.3% 3PT, 87.4% FT, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 30.1 points
• 2024-25 (OKC): 76 games, 34:11 minutes, 51.9% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 89.8% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 32.7 points
• 2025-26 (OKC): 68 games, 33:13 minutes, 55.3% FG, 38.6% 3PT, 87.9% FT, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 31.1 points

How Victor Wembanyama Affected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

How did Victor Wembanyama affect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring approach? Wembanyama’s positioning near the rim forced Gilgeous-Alexander and his training staff to incorporate more off-ball movement, screen action, and conditioning designed to counter San Antonio’s unique paint defense.

What series eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder from the postseason? The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series during the Western Conference finals, as reported by basketusa.com.

Who trains Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the offseason? Nem Ilic serves as Gilgeous-Alexander’s long-time physical trainer, overseeing the guard’s conditioning programs and summer adjustments.