The Oklahoma City Thunder’s clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night was highly anticipated. The game did not disappoint, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a lot to say afterwards. Both teams entered the game with double-digit winning streaks. Each team had an unbeaten record against the rival league. Something needed to give.
Ultimately, the Thunder paved the path for the Cavaliers to continue their success. Cleveland defeated Oklahoma City 129-122 in a close contest. The amount of promotion put in by the NBA for a game between two smaller market clubs was a major talking point leading up to the game. The NBA has recently faced criticism from fans for failing to appropriately market its product, resulting in a drop in viewership. This was a pleasant change of pace. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander was questioned if market size is still an important consideration for stars. The Thunder superstar made a definitive message.
“I love Oklahoma City,” Gilgeous-Alexander told journalists. “I can’t imagine myself living anywhere other than Oklahoma City. Market or no market, I don’t care. I enjoy where I am. Every day, I go to work smiling. Money isn’t that important. As long as I appreciate what I do at a high level and enjoy the people I work with, the market is irrelevant to me.”
The NBA has frequently been chastised for failing to promote its successful, smaller market clubs properly. If superstars like Gilgeous-Alexander continue to have tremendous success in cities like Oklahoma City, the league may be compelled to reconsider its strategy.
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