Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains a prep for Hamilton Heights Christian College in Chattanooga, Tennessee when the Thunder played home playoff game in Game 7 against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Jaylen Williams? Just finished his first year in high school at Gilbert, Arizona.
Alex Caruso? Preparing for the NBA draft, the draft will lead to a G League in OKC.
In other words, it has been a minute.
But even though Oklahoma City hasn't had a game like this since the Thunder in 2016 West Finals Game 6, we still know that these decisive games in the Western Conference semi-finals are expected to be the Grand Theater. After all, Game 7 is one of the most unique things in all sports, so there are all kinds of things to watch out for on the court and on the court.
So, as you prepare for Game 7 between the Thunder and the Nuggets, here are seven things to watch.
It seems like you can keep your eyes away from the Nuggets' superstars.
He is now the best basketball player on the planet, which doesn't respect the SGA or any other great player. Jokic is at a different level because of how he combines big guys and small skills.
He's even higher in the playoffs - Jokic leads all players in these playoffs, rebounds, assists and steals.
The Thunder spins different defenders on Jokic. Isaiah Hartenstein and his batch. Chet Holmgren and his length. Jaylin Williams and his perseverance. Everyone has great time with Jokic and not very good times, hey, that's expected. He wants to score. And assist. and rebound.
But what Thunder needs to avoid is sending Jokic to the free throw line. Jokic scored 12 or more free throws in three wins of the Nuggets in this series. He threw five out of two of the three losses.
If Jokic had no free throws, the Thunder won a better victory.
- Jenni Carlson
Without that person here, Thunder wouldn't be able to win Game 7. No SGA is delivered somehow - in the game, in the clutch.
As the series ages, MVP's favorites have improved. From trying to understand Denver's coverage, to solving them in clutch time, to flowing into his basket in Game 6.
He was one of only three players on the Thunder Squad and experienced Game 7. Denver intends to defend his way, his abilities are benchmarks. In a final game, a star must be a star.
- Joel Lorenzi
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault promised that the way of playing in Game 7 would not be very different.
"Once the ball goes up, it's the same game," he said Saturday afternoon. "If you want to test this, watch any Game 7. It's not like playing a different game."
Like most other games, Game 7 will come down to execution. Noisy, invisible, shooting. At least in Oklahoma City, the most important games have at least shared common ground with previous games.
But whether the thunder feels this core or not, and the idea of actually playing on Sunday is worth a look.
- Joel Lorenzi
In the regular season, Williams averaged 21.6 points, shooting 51.3% from the field and 38.2% from the field.
However, the first time All-Stars struggled in this series. His average hit rate is 33.7% and his deep hit rate is 21.2%.
Williams is dealing with a weak wrist injury that certainly played a role in his inconsistent score. Despite being stuffed with 10 assists and 7 rebounds in Game 6, he only scored six points.
If OKC wants to keep its season alive, it will require the guys to bear the pressure from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Williams' outstanding performance will go a long way.
- Justin Martinez
OKC is at home 4-1 in these playoffs.
One of the advantages is the Paycom center crowd, which fuels a lot of thunder. The biggest example is OKC's recovery of victory in Game 5.
The rims also gave the Thunder the impetus.
OKC's shooting percentage was 39.8% in the playoffs, ranking first among eight second-round teams. But this can only shoot 25.9%, which is the last path to the ranking.
- Justin Martinez
The Nuggets forward put left hamstring pressure on the left hamstring at the end of Game 6, and as ESPN's Shams Charania first reported, Gordon's position in Game 7 was "question".
Whether Gordon works may have a huge impact. He has been one of these playoff stars. Gordon won the game's three-pointer against Thunder in Game 1 with the Nuggets defeating the Nuggets against Thunder, and he scored three-pointers in Game 3 to help overtime work overtime in another Nuggets' victory.
The series averaged 14.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
If Gordon can't go, expect to see more of Payton Watson and Julian Strauser in Game 7.
- Joe Mussatto
Isaiah Joe expires.
He is a quarter of 14 in the three-point range of the series, and these four have all scored the Thunder's second blowout victory.
Joe played only 9 minutes per game in this series. He can't wait to find his rhythm. He needs to fire. Once the first one drops, Joe will definitely hit a few more.
Maybe he could be for the Thunder in Game 7, what Julian Strawther was for the Nuggets in Game 6.
- Joe Mussatto
hint: Sunday at 2:30 pm at Paycom Center (ABC)