OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And Lu Dort Pivot Focus ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 07: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks dives for the ball ... [+] against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 07, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Although it was the best Olympic run that the country had put together in more than two decades, Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Tuesday to France. While the Canadians have a bright future with a solid core of established talent and incoming prospects, they’ll have to wait four more years to get another shot at earning their first Olympic medal since 1936.

Canada’s starting backcourt for the Olympics featured a pair of Oklahoma City Thunder guards, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort representing their country. Although this team had a real shot at making it all the way to the gold medal game and challenging a team like the United States with how much talent was on the roster, the Thunder duo will now pivot their attention to the 2024-25 NBA season. With their eyes on a championship, it will be the most important season for OKC in several years.

It’s been a busy summer for those two Canadian guards, who wrapped up their playoff campaign in mid-May and immediately began preparation for the Olympics which started in late July. They’ll now have less than two months to recover ahead of training camp in September. Along the way, they’ll be in the gym and the weight room getting their bodies ready for the grind of another 82-game regular season, with more to follow in the playoffs.

Luckily for Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort, winning at the highest level is something they’ll have a chance to do very soon following the disappointing Olympic exit. Oklahoma City is projected to be the top team in the Western Conference yet again this season with a real chance at putting together a 60-win season if the team can stay healthy. With one of the brightest futures in the league, while also being a phenomenal team in the present, they’re both in a good place.

Just like in the Olympics with Canada, Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort have shared the backcourt as starting guards for several seasons with the Thunder and have developed into a formidable two-way tandem. Dort is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and Gilgeous-Alexander is among the most dynamic scorers in the game.

With the offseason acquisitions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City now has perhaps the best roster in Thunder history and will be a true title contender. Despite being extremely young, this will be one of the most well-rounded teams in the entire NBA. The starting unit will be phenomenal, with very capable and impactful reserves coming off of the bench.

With the Canadian duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort playing primary roles and only being better this upcoming season with their Olympic experience, the opportunity to contend with the Oklahoma City Thunder should allow them to re-focus their efforts and once again look to accomplish something special. Both now and into the future, competing for a title will be the expectation around Oklahoma City with the way this roster is built.