Oklahoma City represented once again by the OKC Thunder on *** national stage. This time, *** few lucky fans got to be *** part of it, and we caught up with two of them. First off, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you to Sports Illustrated for this honor. When OKC Thunder basketball star Shay Gildress Alexander wins, we all win too. And I think it was right before we went in that they said, OK, this is ***. This is *** secret photo shoot with Shay, Gilges, Alexander for Sports Illustrated, and we all lost our minds because we had no idea. All these fans expected was *** photoshoot wearing thunder blue. Finding out they were getting pictures with Shay, that was *** slam dunk. I didn’t want to act like You know, like an idiot to be like, oh my gosh, but I completely, I think probably make fun of myself *** lot. I was like, oh my gosh, she’s here. You can see Listari pictured here one row away. *** rare moment where no phones were allowed, so we don’t have any behind the scenes pictures. Uh, took people’s coats and all the things that they had with them. And told us we wouldn’t be able to use our phones. The pair says Shay went above and beyond to be kind. And while they’re setting up, like he was so kind and so generous and was saying hi to everybody and was just being such *** such *** good sport. The best part, inviting the fans was all his idea. They told us it was his idea to have *** bunch of Thunder fans in the shot with him, and I thought that was just the kindest. Most incredible idea ever. Yeah, and it shows that like he loves the community and wants the community to be part of his success. Bringing Loud City nationwide and to bring out the community together, I, I think that’s really special and it shows like the world that Oklahoma City is here to stay and here to win another championship. The Thunder will be playing the Grizzlies in Memphis tonight and then on Sunday they’ll be taking on the Heat right here in OKC if you want to come out and support. I’m Jordan Ryan for KOCO5 News.
‘We all lost our minds’: SGA surprises fans with SI Sportsperson of the Year photo shoot
The best part about the surprise was that it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s idea to include the fans.
Updated: 2:09 PM CST Jan 9, 2026
Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was recently named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year award – and in true SGA fashion, he included Thunder fans. Oklahoma City was once again represented on the national stage because of the Thunder, and this time, a few fans got to be part of it. “I think it was right before we went in, they said this is a secret photo shoot with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Sports Illustrated,” Thunder fan Shiny Mathew said. “And we all lost our minds, because we had no idea.” Video Below: Entire Thunder team inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame as ‘Team of Legend’Several fans expected to be part of a photo shoot wearing Thunder blue. Instead, they learned they were getting pictures with the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player.”I didn’t want to act like an idiot, to be like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ But I probably make fun of myself a lot to be like, ‘Oh, my gosh. He’s here,'” Thunder fan Lestari Kusumawardani, who was pictured one row away from Gilgeous-Alexander, said. It was a rare moment where no phones were allowed, so the fans don’t have behind-the-scenes pictures or videos. “They took people’s coats and all of the things that they had with them and told us we wouldn’t be able to use our phones,” Mathew said.”The pair told KOCO 5 that Gilgeous-Alexander went above and beyond to be kind. “While they were setting up, he was so kind and so, like, generous and saying hi to everybody and being such a good sport,” Kusumawardani said. The best part about the surprise was that it was Gilgeous-Alexander’s idea to include the fans. Video Below: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accepts SI’s Sportsperson of the Year award”They told us it was his idea to have a bunch of Thunder fans in the shot with him, and I thought that was the kindest thing ever,” Mathew said. “And it shows that he loves the community and wants the community to be part of that with him.” They brought Loud City nationwide. “To bring out the community together, I think it shows the world that Oklahoma City is here to stay and here to win another championship,” Kusumawardani said. Gilgeous-Alexander accepted SI’s Sportsperson of the Year award earlier this week. The Thunder return to action Friday night, taking on the Memphis Grizzlies before returning to Oklahoma City for a matchup against the Miami Heat on Sunday. Top Headlines Parents of missing 12-year-old Oklahoma boy at center of ‘suspicious disappearance’ charged Law enforcement searches Caddo County property connected to parents of missing Chickasha boy ICE, immigration officials have shot at people at least 16 times in Trump second term TIMELINE: Snow possible for some Friday; frigid wind chills coming to Oklahoma Two people shot by Customs and Border Patrol agents in Portland, Oregon, authorities say
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was recently named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year award – and in true SGA fashion, he included Thunder fans.
Oklahoma City was once again represented on the national stage because of the Thunder, and this time, a few fans got to be part of it.
“I think it was right before we went in, they said this is a secret photo shoot with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Sports Illustrated,” Thunder fan Shiny Mathew said. “And we all lost our minds, because we had no idea.”
Video Below: Entire Thunder team inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame as ‘Team of Legend’
Several fans expected to be part of a photo shoot wearing Thunder blue. Instead, they learned they were getting pictures with the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player.
“I didn’t want to act like an idiot, to be like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ But I probably make fun of myself a lot to be like, ‘Oh, my gosh. He’s here,'” Thunder fan Lestari Kusumawardani, who was pictured one row away from Gilgeous-Alexander, said.
It was a rare moment where no phones were allowed, so the fans don’t have behind-the-scenes pictures or videos.
“They took people’s coats and all of the things that they had with them and told us we wouldn’t be able to use our phones,” Mathew said.
“The pair told KOCO 5 that Gilgeous-Alexander went above and beyond to be kind.
“While they were setting up, he was so kind and so, like, generous and saying hi to everybody and being such a good sport,” Kusumawardani said.
The best part about the surprise was that it was Gilgeous-Alexander’s idea to include the fans.
Video Below: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accepts SI’s Sportsperson of the Year award
“They told us it was his idea to have a bunch of Thunder fans in the shot with him, and I thought that was the kindest thing ever,” Mathew said. “And it shows that he loves the community and wants the community to be part of that with him.”
They brought Loud City nationwide.
“To bring out the community together, I think it shows the world that Oklahoma City is here to stay and here to win another championship,” Kusumawardani said.
Gilgeous-Alexander accepted SI’s Sportsperson of the Year award earlier this week. The Thunder return to action Friday night, taking on the Memphis Grizzlies before returning to Oklahoma City for a matchup against the Miami Heat on Sunday.
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