SGA on Fraud Watch? The 5 Players With The Most to Lose or Gain Game 7
Game 7s are a staple of NBA lore.
When you think about the all-time greats, each of them has some sort of special moment in a Game 7 that helped their team topple a rival.
And there have been numerous Game 7 performances that have hurt a player’s legacy, tarnishing it for some sector of the basketball world forever.
As we head into the climax of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs series on Saturday with a Game 7 to see who will play the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, here are my five players with the most to gain (and possibly lose) heading into the finale.
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1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Yeah, the No. 1 spot is the easiest answer of my life. Gilgeous-Alexander can’t lose this game, and don’t even get me started if the Thunder lose and he has a bad game. There should be no way that a back-to-back league MVP and reigning NBA champion should have the chance of seeing their entire legacy implode in a single game, but that’s what is going on with Gilgeous-Alexander.
He can’t lose this game. After an entire postseason run of mediocre to poor performances, Gilgeous-Alexander needs to come up huge on Saturday night. If not, he might as well turn those MVP trophies into paperweights.
2. Victor Wembanyama
For Wembanyama, Game 7 is important, but it isn’t the end of the world if he loses, like it would be for Gilgeous-Alexander. He has much more to gain with the win than he has to lose, as the San Antonio Spurs feel like they’re in this spot a year earlier than expected.
A poor game and a loss would hurt him, but after already having so many impressive performances in his first playoff run, he’ll be alright. A win, though, and we might be seeing the start of something truly special.
3. De’Aaron Fox
When it comes to who has the most to lose for the Spurs in Game 7, it is Fox, who, with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on the roster, could feel like the odd man out if they look to make a big change this offseason.
Fox has helped bring down the team’s turnovers and is doing well facilitating, but he could do better with his overall shooting, which has left a lot to be desired.
We know that Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper are a part of San Antonio’s future. We might learn Saturday if Fox is in that group as well.
4. Alex Caruso
While this might feel like a weird pick, Caruso has a legitimate chance of being named the MVP of the series if he has another strong game that leads his team to another NBA Finals. If he could do that, Caruso suddenly starts getting discussed as one of the best role players of the 21st century and one of the prominent faces of this Thunder’s possible dynasty.
5. Chet Holmgren
Holmgren has gotten pushed around aplenty in this series by Wembanyama, but he still has one shot left to exact his revenge on his rival and send San Antonio home while securing another NBA Finals appearance.
If the Thunder lose, though, and Wembanyama has a huge game, there’s going to be a lot of bad Holmgren trades thrown around on social media this offseason.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:18 PM.