Before the Oklahoma City Thunder’s comeback win over the LA Clippers, the former’s gameday experience probably felt more like an excursion than a November getaway.

After all, it was the first time the Thunder had a chance to sweat at Intuit Dome. The newest NBA arena opened this season for the Clippers, who previously shared the Crypto dot com Arena with the Los Angeles Lakers.

It will be a season-long storyline to see how visiting players react to the new, state-of-the-art arena. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is proud of his creation and lets LA build its identity.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander discussed the new arena after the Thunder’s win. The 26-year-old spent his first season with the Clippers before being shipped to OKC in the infamous Paul George trade of 2019.

“It was cool. It was definitely a different feeling,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The stands feel a little more on top of the field. Kind of like college. Yeah, it was cool.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is likely referring to the Clippers’ fan wall. The seats, stationed at the free throw line, are designed to create a mountain of fans. The gimmick is intended to create an artificial home field advantage at the free-throw line, which can swing the results of games.

Chet Holmgren agreed with Gilgeous-Alexander’s answer. The 22-year-old brought up OKC’s new arena, which will open in the 2028-2029 season.

Holmgren asked, “Do you think our arena is getting cooler?

Gilgeous-Alexander replied: “Definitely.”

The response is music to the ears of Thunder fans. The implication is that Gilgeous-Alexander may stay longer than his current contract, which expires in 2027. He will be eligible for a supermax extension this coming offseason. Holmgren will certainly be in OKC as well, as the new arena will open during his upcoming extension that he will sign this coming offseason.

That said, Thunder fans shouldn’t read too much into this little exchange. 2028 is four years away, which is an eternity in the NBA. Instead, Thunder fans should focus on their current team, which has looked like a title contender through six games.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Shai Gilgeous-Alexader in awe of LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome arena