LeBron James won his first two MVPs in years 6 and 7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP in Year 7, and he’s about to win another in Year 8.
James won his first two NBA championships in years 9 and 10. If the Thunder repeat, SGA will win his first two rings in years 7 and 8, just like his first two MVPs.
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James is either the best or the second-best player in the history of the game, while Gilgeous-Alexander has had a much slower path to stardom than James, who himself is on his way to becoming an all-time great.
With Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets out of the playoff picture, we can all agree that SGA is the best player left in the postseason. James, who is 14 years older than SGA, has won the title every year in the past.
Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about James on the eve of the Thunder’s first game against the Lakers, a series that will pit two great players at different stages of their careers against each other.
“We could sit here all day and talk about what he does for the game,” the SGA said Monday. “This guy is one of the best basketball players in the history of mankind.”
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Ever since James Naismith found a way to repurpose peach baskets.
“You don’t need me to sit here and tell you what a great player LeBron James is…Obviously he’s a little bit past his prime, but he’s still very, very capable,” SGA said.
Carlson: Father Time? Thunder know LeBron James can still perform at an elite level at age 41
Marcus Smart leads former OSU Cowboys in NBA playoffs
Marcus Smart has been a mainstay in the postseason since the Celtics selected the former Oklahoma State guard with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
In 12 NBA seasons, the 32-year-old has appeared in 10 playoff appearances.
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As a first-year player for the Lakers, Smart performed well in the first round against the Rockets. He averaged 14.7 points, 5.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. Smart started all six games.
The aging defensive ace is expected to get plenty of SGA in the second round against the Thunder.
Here’s where Smart ranks among former Cowboys in NBA playoff games:
1. Marcus Smart: 114. Smart played in 108 playoff games in nine seasons with the Celtics. He ranks 15th among active postseason players. LeBron James ranks first with 298 points.
2. Tony Allen: 112. 56 games vs. Celtics. Fifty-six games with the Grizzlies.
3. John Starks: 96. Starks played in fewer games, but he played nearly 900 more minutes than Allen in the playoffs.
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4. Richard Dumas: 26. The Tulsa native made 20 playoff starts as a rookie with the Suns in 1992-93 before losing to Michael Jordan’s Bulls in the NBA Finals.
5. Bob Harris: 21. Harris played for the Fort Wayne Pistons and Boston Celtics in the early 1950s.
More: No Luka Doncic, Lakers’ big problem against Thunder? Any chance in Los Angeles?
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers at Paycom Center on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025 in Oklahoma City.
How Austin Reaves ranks among former Sooners’ playoff scorers
From Newark, Arkansas, to Wichita State, to the University of Oregon, to the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s quite a step up for Austin Reaves, undrafted in the 2021 draft, who averaged 18.3 points per game in his senior season with the Sooners.
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Now he is one of the savviest scorers in the NBA. Reeves is averaging a career-high 23.3 points in 51 games this season.
With Luka Doncic (hamstring) sidelined, Reeves and LeBron James must become consistent sources of offense for the Lakers if they have a chance to stay relevant against the Thunder.
Reeves joins the ranks of former Sooners in NBA playoff scoring as the Lakers reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
1. Blake Griffin: 1,238. The Lob City Clippers never play well, but their games are fun to watch. Griffin is the biggest reason.
2. Alvan Adams: 1,076. Adams is the pride of Putnam City and a lifelong Suns player.
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3. Mookie Blaylock: 769. Blaylock’s career scoring average in the playoffs (14.2 points per game) is higher than in the regular season (13.5 points per game).
4. Trae Young: 713. Young was just five years away from being the best player on an Eastern Conference Finals team.
5. Garfield Hurd: 602. Played for the Buffalo Braves, Bulls and Suns.
6. Clifford Ray: 496. Ray was the rebounding leader on the 1975 Warriors championship team.
7. Austin Reeves: 472. Reeves averaged 16.9 points in 28 career playoff games.
Must read: Why Thunder’s Carson Wallace deserves respect for being named to All-Defensive team
Los Angeles’ Austin Reeves (15) and LeBron James (23) talk to fans during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City.
Take a spin at the Tankathon
We’ve reached a point in the NBA schedule where table tennis takes center stage. The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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It’s time to give our old friend Tankathon.com a visit (or 10). The Thunder, who own the picks the Clippers acquired from the never-ending Paul George trade, have a 7.1 percent chance of landing a top-four pick, including a 1.5 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick.
I simulated the lottery 10 times on Monday morning.
Spin 1
Wow! After one spin, the team with a 1% chance of winning the lottery will receive the first pick. Chalk it up to #HeatCulture.
Spin 2
The Grizzlies have never had the No. 1 pick.
Spin 3
From the NBA Finals to the No. 1 pick.
Spin 4
Welcome to the Jazz, AJ Dybantsa.
Spin 5
As the Steph Curry era draws to a close, there’s new life for the Warriors.
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Spin 6
What a sad collection of teams. Sacramento certainly isn’t going to mess this up.
Spin 7
This isn’t fair.
Spin 8
The Eagles have the No. 1 pick for the second time in three years. They’ll find someone better than Zachary Lisacher.
Spin 9
What do the Wizards need to do to get the No. 1 pick? ! ? !
Spin 10
Brooklyn, Washington and Indiana all have a 14% chance of being the No. 1 pick. Even the best chances aren’t that good.
Joe Mussato is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Send him an email at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support the work of Joe and other Oklahoma journalists by purchasing one Subscribe digitally now at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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Thunder vs. Lakers
Game 1 Tips: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Paycom Center (NBC, Peacock)
This article originally appeared in Oklahoma State: SGA reflects on LeBron James’ legacy ahead of Thunder-Lakers series
