The Oklahoma City Thunder have been accused of tanking by the rest of the NBA world due to their star player's injury management. However, head coach Mark Daigneault has explained that if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's injury had happened earlier in the season, he would not be playing in games right now. The Thunder do not have the luxury of resting their max contract point guard due to the tight standings, but they are still staying competitive and managing him the same way every team does in the modern era. SGA has missed significant time this season with an MCL injury, an abdominal strain, and a sore ankle, but he has played in two contests since being placed in health and safety protocols. Despite losing top draft pick Chet Holmgren for the season and having multiple players miss time due to injury, the Thunder remain a game out of the NBA play-in tournament. Resting SGA is impactful long-term for Oklahoma City, and their response to tanking allegations demonstrates their commitment to staying competitive.