Alexander became the MVP of this season. The Hornets chose Alexander that year, I regret it

On May 22, May 22, 2025, the NBA officially announced that Shay Gilgers-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was elected as the 2024-2025 regular season MVP. The 26-year-old guard led the Youth League Thunder to the second best in the Western Conference with a comprehensive data of 31.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. When the spotlight is focused on the new MVP, a topic that has been repeatedly discussed is: Who regrets the teams that once had him but eventually gave up?

###1. The Hornets' "draft magic operation" and historic regrets

Time went back to the 2018 draft night. The Charlotte Hornets selected the defender from the University of Kentucky with the 11th pick, but then reached a deal with the Clippers: the Hornets sent out Alexander + two second round picks to exchange for the Clippers' No. 12 pick Miles Bridges. At that time, the deal was considered as a goal-the Hornets got the forward line they liked, while the Clippers won the future point guard candidate. However, seven years later, when Bridges is still working for 20 points per game, Alexander is already at the top of the league.

What's more ironic is that the No. 11 sign that the Hornets originally belonged to the Pelicans and obtained it through the 2017 Cousins ​​trade. This means they could have both Alexander and active All-Star Brandon Ingram (2016 No. 2). The current general manager of the Hornets admitted in an interview: "We evaluated that Bridges was more suitable for partnering with Walker, and now this may be the most expensive misjudgment in team history." According to statistics, Alexander's victory contribution value (WS) this season is as high as 16.3, while the Hornets' total team is only 15.8.

###2. The Clippers' "win in the present" and the price

After winning Alexander, the Clippers actually showed their keen eyes. They made him start 24 games in the rookie season, and averaged 10.8 points per game and were selected as the Best Rookie second team. But in the summer of 2019, in order to form a championship roster with Paul George, they had to send Alexander as the main bargaining chip to the Thunder. Frank, then president of the Clippers, once publicly stated: "This is the most painful choice, and we believe Shay will become an All-Star. "

Now it seems that this deal forms a double irony: the Clippers have not reached the finals so far, and the Thunder not only won Alexander, but also obtained 5 first-round picks (the 2022 George trade), of which the 2024 first-round picks were converted into potential rookie Homegren. Basketball analyst Kevin Pelton pointed out: "If Alexander had been retained, the Clippers could have built a core lineup with him and Leonard, but now they have to worry about the 34-year-old George's contract renewal. "

###3. How does the Thunder's development system achieve MVP

Thunder's general manager Presti's team-building philosophy has been perfectly verified in Alexander. After the transaction came to Alexander, the Thunder gave him full room for growth: the ball usage rate increased to 28.3% in the first season, and renewed the contract for 172 million yuan in 2021 in advance (now regarded as one of the most valuable contracts in the league). The team also specially hired a shooting coach to change its three-point shooting position, increasing its three-point shooting percentage from 36.7% in the rookie season to 41.2% this season.

What's more important is the Thunder's "long-termism" strategy: When Alexander was selected as the All-Star for the first time in 2023, the team remained patient and refused to trade with young assets. This trust is rewarded with great rewards - Alexander scored first in the league at a critical moment this season (189 points), leading the Thunder to a key record of 15 wins and 3 losses. Teammate Dort sighed: "He came to the training hall first every day, and this professional spirit has infected the entire locker room. "

###4. Reshaping the league pattern under the butterfly effect

Alexander's rise is changing the fate of many teams:

1. The Hornets missed the playoffs for seven consecutive years, and this year they won the top pick, but had to face the cruel reality that the 2025 No. 1 pick belongs to the Thunder (from the Clippers);

2. The Clippers are facing the core aging problem, and George may try the free market this summer, and their first round picks before 2027 are all in the hands of the Thunder;

3. The Thunder has established a young dynasty with Alexander (26), Homgren (22), and Williams (23), with 13 first round picks in the next five years.

ESPN's expert group vote showed that 86% of respondents believed that the Thunder would reach the finals at least once in the next three years. This prospect made the transaction that year even more dramatic - Thunder not only got an MVP, but also obtained all the resources needed for reconstruction through chain transactions.

###5. Deep thinking about "missing geniuses"

In the NBA, a variable league, every team will experience draft mistakes, but Alexander's story is particularly special:

- **Limitations of the scouting system**: The draft report that year believed that Alexander "lacks explosive power, and the upper limit is a qualified starter", ignoring his 2.08-meter wingspan and super high basketball IQ;

- **The importance of cultivating the environment**: Thunder assistant coach Chicks revealed: "We found that he has a rare ability to change speed, which is more important than simple speed";

- **The Art of Choice**: If the Hornets retained Alexander back then, Walker could have established his core position after he left the team; and if the Clippers waited for another year, they might not have to rush to trade George.

When Alexander thanked the Thunder at the MVP award ceremony, "Believe in a Canadian child's dream", this sentence may be the deepest revelation for the teams who missed him. In this alliance that emphasizes instant returns, the real winners are often those management teams willing to grow with young people. For the Hornets and the Clippers, they missed not only an MVP, but also a historical opportunity to redefine the team's culture.