Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Former NBA point guard Jeff Teague believes a defensive plan has been revealed to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And the 37-year-old surprisingly credited the Lakers coach, JJ Redick, for developing the strategy.
Teague appeared in an episode of the Club 520 Podcast following Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and the Spurs. Here, he praised the Spurs coach Mitch Johnson for developing an effective strategy that contained SGA to just 24 points and led them to a victory. Teague said, “He's a phenomenal coach. He's probably gonna be Coach of the Year going forward."
However, Teague credited Redick for preparing the original plan to stop Gilgeous-Alexander. He said, “And then, obviously, the Lakers – shoutout to JJ Redick. JJ’s a good coach. People are taking his blueprint on how to stop SGA and applying it. Great coaches learn from other coaches. But shout-out to JJ Redick. He changed the whole way of guarding OKC.”
Pike High School head coach Jeff Teague gestures during the first half of a Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference championship basketball game against Lawrence North High School, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Lawrence North High School.
Pike High School head coach Jeff Teague gestures during the first half of a Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference championship basketball game against Lawrence North High School, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Lawrence North High School.
He then added, “This might hurt OKC going forward and the whole trajectory of being a dynasty. They won a championship, but that way of guarding him might have messed up everything.”
The Thunder, as of now, lead the series 2-1. However, analysts and former players are closely observing to see how teams are defending SGA. Teague believes the defensive ideas from Redick are now spreading across the league.
Los Angeles aimed to force SGA to give the ball up early in the shot clock. Marcus Smart picked him up full court, and LeBron James used his IQ to disturb transition reads.
The Lakers were swept 4-0 despite making Gilgeous-Alexander uncomfortable. In Game 3, he scored 33 points but struggled with inefficiency on just 7-for-20 shooting.
Even though the Lakers lost the series, the foundation was firmly set. Those same ideas were studied and copied by the Spurs.
The San Antonio Spurs Used the Lakers’ Defense Strategy Against the Thunder
Johnson used many of these same concepts in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. They put extra bodies around Gilgeous-Alexander. Victor Wembanyama was waiting in the paint to protect the rim. As a result, San Antonio won Game 1 in double overtime with a score of 122-115.
Gilgeous-Alexander had struggles in Game 1 against this familiar defensive scheme. He scored only 24 points on 7-for-23 shooting on the night. He also committed 7 turnovers.
He then made adjustments to deal with the constant pressure. He recorded 30 points and 9 assists in a Game 2 victory. He followed that with 26 points and 12 assists in Game 3. Once the extra help arrived, he shifted his game into a playmaking mode instead of trying bad shots.
Redick may not have defeated the Thunder, but he may have influenced how the other teams now defend them.
Do you think this defensive blueprint will stop them from winning another championship?
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Written by
Utsav Sinha
Edited by
Souvik Roy