One day after getting bounced out of the playoffs by Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs Defense Department, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up to the podium and said his season was a failure.

And for once… I agree with him.

The two-time MVP came into this series looking like a basketball wizard. During the regular season he was dropping 31 points a night, shooting over 55%, looking smoother than Barry White singing in a silk robe.

Then he ran into the Spurs.

Suddenly those easy buckets disappeared faster than my paycheck after rent is due.

SGA averaged just 25.9 points, shot 40.9% from the field, and hit only 28.6% from three. Translation? The Spurs turned him from Superman into Clark Kent.

Now before the SGA fan club starts typing angry comments, yes, he had 35 points in Game 7.

But let’s be honest.

Half the night looked like SGA was trying to score while Stephon Castle was attached to his jersey like a lost child at Disney World and Victor Wembanyama was standing behind him looking like a created player from NBA 2K with all the sliders turned up to 99.

And let’s address the elephant in the room…

THE FLOPPING DIDN’T WORK.

Ladies and gentlemen, SGA was out there trying to sell calls like he was working the midnight shift at a used car dealership.

The problem?

The refs weren’t buying.

There were possessions where he hit the floor so much I thought I was watching professional wrestling instead of Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.

Meanwhile Wembanyama was standing there looking confused like:

“Why does this man keep falling down?”

The Thunder didn’t get much help either.

Jalen Williams was basically playing the series on one hamstring and a prayer.

Ajay Mitchell got hurt.

And Chet Holmgren?

Folks, I’ve seen more aggressive shooting at a family barbecue.

Game 7 was especially rough.

Thirty-three minutes.

One made field goal.

FOUR POINTS.

I’ve accidentally scored more points than that in a pickup game while trying to find the water cooler.

Chet looked like somebody disconnected his controller.

Still, give SGA credit.

Instead of throwing teammates under the bus, he defended Holmgren and took responsibility himself.

That’s leadership.

That’s what stars are supposed to do.

But here’s the reality:

The Spurs exposed something.

When you have Castle hounding you, Wembanyama waiting at the rim, and an entire defense built to make your life miserable, the Thunder suddenly looked human.

For the first time all season, Oklahoma City looked like a team that wasn’t ready for the final boss battle.

And that final boss just happened to be a 7-foot-4 alien from another planet.

So yes, SGA says the season was a failure.

Harsh?

Maybe.

Wrong?

Not really.

Because when you’re the MVP and your goal is a championship, moral victories don’t count.

The good news?

He’s still one of the best players in the world.

The bad news?

Victor Wembanyama isn’t going anywhere.

And neither is that Spurs defense.

Thunder fans better hope SGA spends this summer working on his jumper…

and maybe a little less time practicing his Academy Award acceptance speech.