In sports, it’s safe to say small market teams don’t get much attention from the media. This is especially the case for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are led by point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite the team’s horrendous record, Gilgeous-Alexander has made them watchable when healthy.
However, where did this man come from? Let’s dive into it.
O Canada, My Canada
Born on July 12, 1998, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was born in Toronto, Canada to parents Charmaine Gilgeous and Vaughn Alexander. He would attend high school in Tennessee, where he would play for Hamilton Heights Christian.
The young point guard was considered a top-50 prospect and had a great senior season that drew the attention of big schools like Kansas and Texas.
In the end, Shai would commit to the University of Kentucky and play for coach John Calipari.
During his one year at Kentucky, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists/game. He was always available, playing in all 37 games for the Wildcats. On the defensive end, he made his presence felt, leading the team in steals.
After a phenomenal season, he was named to the All-SEC freshman team. He was also part of the All-SEC second team by the league’s coaches.
Gilgeous-Alexander would declare for the NBA draft, where he would get chosen by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Clippers on draft night.
The NBA Journey Begins
Thrust into the starting lineup by coach Doc Rivers, the Canadian point guard was healthy for all 82 games. He would average almost 11 points a game, good for sixth-best on the team. The assist and rebounding numbers were low, only averaging 3.3 assists a game and 2.8 rebounds.
However, he carried over his skills on the defensive end from college and averaged a team-leading steal per game. The Clipper point guard also shot 80 percent from the free-throw line, which was the fifth-best on the team.
During his one and only season with Los Angeles, the team finished 48-34 and made the playoffs as the eighth seed. Unfortunately, they ran into the number one seed Golden State Warriors, who finished them off in six games.
Despite the first-round elimination, Gilgeous-Alexander improved his scoring average to 13.7 points per game while shooting about 47 percent from the floor.
Unfortunately, his time in Southern California came to a close. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Paul George.
Time to Bring the Thunder
Once he arrived in Oklahoma City, he joined a squad led by veteran Chris Paul. Joining the starting lineup as a shooting guard, his scoring numbers went up significantly. Averaging about 19 points a game, he also grabbed about six rebounds per contest.
The change of scenery benefited the young Canadian, and the team finished with a record of 44-28 en route to the fifth seed in the 2020 NBA playoffs.
Despite a tough series against the Houston Rockets, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder would be eliminated in seven games. In the losing effort, he would play a team-high 40 minutes per game in the series. Also, he was third in scoring behind Paul and Dennis Schröder.
Paul would depart for Phoenix in the offseason, leaving the door open for Gilgeous-Alexander to take over the point guard role.
The Unquestioned Leader
With a roster filled by mostly young players, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander knew his role was bigger than ever before. He stepped up to the challenge, averaging almost 24 points a game while dishing out a career-high six assists. His field goal percentage hovered around the 50 percent mark, but injuries plagued him all season long.
A foot injury would force him to miss the rest of the 2021 season, ending a promising first year as the lead man. The team would finish 22-50, good for 14th in the West.
Now, we arrive at this season. The team’s record hasn’t changed much, as they remain near the bottom of the Western Conference at 22-53. Gilgeous-Alexander has missed 18 games this season due to injury, as health continues to be an issue.
As of today, coach Mark Daigneault announced he would be out for the season. This means SGA would have only played in 56 games this season.
He had six double-doubles and averaged almost 25 points per game. However, his three-point percentage dropped to a career-worst 30 percent, which is something he can work on in the offseason. The point guard still averaged six assists per game and 1.3 steals per contest.
It’s no question that when healthy, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a future star in the making. He had 20 games with 30+ points this season, showing he can get buckets on a nightly basis.
Many may question why he won’t demand a trade out of Oklahoma City and play for a big-market team.
However, I don’t blame him for making a name for himself with the Thunder. It’s clear he’s the leader for a young team building for the future.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a five-year, $172 million maximum rookie contract extension, his agent Thaddeus Foucher of @Wasserman tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 3, 2021
We all know about the Ja Morants and LaMelo Balls of the world. But, don’t sleep on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He is the underappreciated star of the NBA.
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