Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP Run Forces Kawhi Truth Bomb As 7x NBA Champ Rubs Salt in Clippers’ Wound

Remember 2019? The Clippers sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Gallinari, and a pile of first-round picks to OKC for Paul George. At the time, it felt like a blockbuster move—an all-in swing for a title run, with Doc Rivers betting big on a superstar duo to bring glory back to LA. Meanwhile, OKC quietly loaded up for the future, stacking draft picks like poker chips and handing the keys to a promising young guard. Fast forward to 2025, and Shai’s turned into a full-blown superstar. Clippers fans gotta be wondering “what if” by now. And seven-time champ Robert Horry recently chimed in, explaining why that deal ended up being a long-term win for SGA than the Clippers—and a lesson in patience for the rest of the league.

Again, in the same year, they signed Kawhi Leonard in free agency, hoping to finally make the Clippers a legit title contender. Now, if you know Kawhi, you know the ball pretty much lives in his hands when he’s healthy and on the floor. If Shai had stayed with the Clippers, it would’ve been a tough, awkward fit alongside Kawhi’s ball-dominant, iso-heavy style of play. Robert Horry knows this, too. And he’s hinted that Shai likely wouldn’t have blossomed playing under those circumstances in LA.

In a recent episode of The Nightcap, Robert Horry dropped some truth, saying, “I think he getting traded to OKC was a better situation. because it wasn’t, he wasn’t going to be the head of the snake.” It’s clear that Horry believes the Clippers weren’t the right fit for Shai, as the team had bigger plans around Kawhi. He explained, “He(Shai) was never going to be able to flourish.” Shannon Sharpe then summed it all up perfectly, adding, “They were looking to build around Kawhai. He needs the ball.” Sharpe nailed it. The Clippers were building their offense around Kawhi, and Shai would’ve struggled for touches.

If Shai had stayed in LA, there’s no way we’d be talking about him as a legit MVP contender right now. In OKC, Shai has been able to develop his game without the constraints of an established superstar. In OKC, though, Shai got the chance to build the team around him and lead from the front. The Thunder gave him the keys, and he’s been driving ever since, becoming the face of the franchise. As Horry pointed out, “If you watch SGA he has a lot of guys on his team that love him and they know what they exactly to do and they sit back and let him work.”

As a result of this unforeseen trade, the Clippers arguably missed the playoffs in 2019 and now again in 2025. This gives fans plenty of time to reflect on what could’ve been, especially with Shai’s rise to superstardom. But the real question is: What message does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have for his old team as they now see an early exit?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets real about the possibility of facing his old squad

No one’s forgetting the trade that sent Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s one of those trades that makes you shake your head. And it’s safe to say the Thunder came out on top. The Clippers enjoyed a few good years with George, but he ended up with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024. Meanwhile, the Thunder got more than they ever expected in Shai.

The real payoff wasn’t just the first-round picks; it was watching Shai grow into one of the NBA’s brightest stars. Honestly, Gilgeous-Alexander has already surpassed the peak of Paul George’s career. That makes the trade a massive win for OKC. And when asked about facing the Clippers, the team that traded him away, Shai didn’t hold back. He was real about the past, but didn’t let it define him.

“They did [motivate me] a long time ago. I haven’t thought about them in years, though. [You] can’t hold, I guess you could say, grudges forever in life. … For whatever reason, they moved off me and they thought it was a good idea.” Shai said.

Now, as Shai leads a surging Thunder squad deep into the postseason while George suits up in a different jersey, the contrast couldn’t be clearer: one player is building a legacy, the other is chasing what’s left of one. It’s poetic in a way: the quiet, overlooked piece in a blockbuster deal becomes the storm that now shakes the league. And as Shai calmly shrugs off the past with wisdom beyond his years, you can’t help but wonder: did the Clippers trade away a franchise cornerstone for a window that never fully opened… or a mirror that showed them what patience could’ve built?

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