Will Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continue the 3-point trend?

Oklahoma City has a clear mission this season: Shoot more three-pointers. The Thunder were the best team in basketball percentage-wise a year ago, despite ranking 16th in the NBA in attempts per game.

Bench boss Mark Daigneault has stressed the importance of his team hitting more triples in the 2024-25 season, where Oklahoma City is considered a contender. The reigning Coach of the Year mostly points the finger at rising star Jalen Williams and key rotation player Aaron Wiggins, but the message has gotten through to every player.

One of the biggest showstoppers from beyond the arc in the preseason was OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has a newly honed jump shot that is more visually fluid and quicker. The success rate has also increased, reaching 70 percent on 3-pointers, including 4-on-4 on catch-and-shoots, opportunities that were rare a season ago.

“Every summer I try to get better. There is always something you can do. Always one area. “You’re never going to be a perfect basketball player,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I wanted to use the preseason to try to implement my work in the summer. Try to transfer them into the game. I think I did a good job with that.”

Making more three-pointers is crucial for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the league’s leading midfield scorer and puts pressure on the team with the best of them. The ability to stop and burst 3s keeps defenses unsettled and allows the star guard to continue to develop and improve.

“Just for fun. A few summers ago I was shooting crazy mid-range shots just for fun. A few summers ago I did some regressions just for fun,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of his motivation. “Every summer I strive to become a more well-rounded basketball player and add new things to my game. That’s the root of everything.”

Given Gilgeous-Alexander’s comments after Thunder practice on Sunday, it’s safe to assume the Thunder superstar will continue to shoot triples – he was shooting just 3.6 per game a year ago and now appears ready to do so Volume thanks to his shot increases the chances that his teammates can offer him during the offensive.

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