Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, meteoric rise to stardom

The injury of chet holmgren before the start of the season, the hopes placed in Oklahoma. The return to the starting point of the Thunder turned them, once again, into a team that would fight to win the games, but that would not compete in the West. As if it were an oasis in the desert, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has broken into this beginning of the campaign showing the star that not only can it become, but that already shines in the nba.

Without a doubt, one of the big surprises in this first month of competition. The former player of Kentucky of 24 years He has emerged as one of the great scorers of the championship. Unstoppable in a rival basket, he is marking numbers that have not been seen in Oklahoma for more than six seasons, when Russell Westbrook average 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists by encounter, and took the MVP in 2016/2017.

The Canadian, responsible in turn for his team to get a place in the next 2023 World Cup in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan, has shown that it can be Leader of the great project that he plans sampresti, general manager of the franchise, for the next few years. Take, in this way, the baton of a chris paul who left three seasons ago, after leaving the Thunder fifth in the Western Conference on the 2019/2020. Since then, the Thunder have not set foot Playoffs.

Currently the leading candidate for Most Improved Player of the Yearwith permission from Desmond Baneplayer of grizzliesand of Lauri Markkanenof the Utah Jazz, Shai can only look up. Like an erupting volcano, his burst it has been so great that it can no longer be controlled. The spotlights they’re all over him because he’s playing like a bona fide superstar.

Fourth leading scorer (more of 31 points average) and eighth greatest thief (1.8 steals) of the first weeks of competition. The Thunder point guard has scored more than 30 points in ten of the 16 parties that he has played this season, with a hit from 52.6% shooting from the field and an effectiveness of 39.1% from triple. MVP numbers for a player who, at 24, does not stop growing.

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Gone is his role as good scorer and influential player in various facets of the game. Their improves year by year in Oklahoma (19-23-24 and now 31 points per game in the franchise’s four seasons so far) show that he has no ceiling, that he is destined to be one of the faces of the american league in the next campaigns.

Entering the statistical level, the player born in Ontario is fourth in the league in PER (tool that measures the efficiency of a player), only behind luka doncic, Stephen Curry Y Joel Embiid and eighth in win shares (statistic that measures the influence of a player in the victories of your team). The numbers add to the efficiency.

Something that has helped enhance his virtues is his company. Being surrounded by players with a good touch on the ball like giddywhich averages 5.8 assists by encounter, and a jalen williams who has landed on his feet after the great level shown at the University of Santa Clara, all is well for Gilgeous-Alexander to play as he pleases. The Australian brings to light the best version of Shai no ball defense of Luguentz Dort can release him in his own basket, while Alexej Pokusevsky Y Jeremiah Robinson-Earl they benefit from the attraction it causes in defense.

Their physical and intelligence They allow him to subdue the opposing defender with little difficulty in one on one. The ability you have to throw after dribbleadded to its great size (2.11 meters), make him unstoppable when he arms his arm. The explosiveness what has gone developing over the years they do not prevent him from finding the rival center under the basket and leaving victorioussometimes with a euro-step that has no equal in the league.

In the midst of rumors that place him outside of Oklahoma (new york knicks Y toronto raptors lurking), Shai is shining brighter than everdesigning his own path towards, surely, the first all star of his career. It should be remembered that the base, contractually, is in the first season of its extension five years and 172 million dollars which he signed last August.

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The Oklahoma situation it does not help him to fight for something more than being one of the best scorers of the tournament. Still, the Thunder, with the absence of Holmgren, who presumably won’t return until next season, don’t occupy the last few spots in the West, reserved for lakers Y Rocketsbut they fight every game to try to take the victory home.

An exercise in courage and struggle representative of Mark Daigneaultthe young technician of 37 years who has full confidence on the part of the directive. The perfect voice from the benches for a project that has suffered a hard blow, but that will return stronger than ever. The possibility of having one of the top five picks in the next Draft adds another perspective to the plans.

Amen Thompson, Nick Smith, Dariq Whitehead, Scoot Henderson Or until Victor Wembanyamawhich has caused a furore internationally in recent weeks, can shorten deadlines in a franchise that wants to rise in the West and you don’t have time to wait. The pieces begin to complete the puzzle of Presti, who already has in his hands a Superstar present and future in the NBA. It’s time to move on. It’s time for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.