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Oklahoma City Thunder: A new superstar is born in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

By Andrew Novakowski

Nov 14, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball up the court during the second half of a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball up the court during the second half of a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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A new superstar is born in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Every year, the NBA produces a star that rises above expectations and takes over the NBA. In recent years, young stars have cemented themselves as fan favorites, such as Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, and more. The NBA has become more of a young men’s league, and stars continue to develop yearly.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is looking to be the next superstar in the NBA. Oklahoma City Thunder fans and a few others may have seen it coming, but his play has been on another level that no one saw coming. SGA is performing at an All-NBA level while leaving the rest of the league in awe.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to stardom

In recent years, star players have been taking over smaller market organizations, Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks, Zion Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans, and Ja Morant for the Memphis Grizzlies, to name a few. Small market teams have been starving for success, and OKC is improving every year with such a young team with fantastic potential and should be a team to watch in the near future.

SGA began to show signs of stardom in his second season and the first with OKC. The LA Clippers traded away SGA to the Thunder, where his rise began. In his first season with the Thunder, SGA averaged 19 points a game in his first season with the Thunder and improved every year. From 2020-23 increased his average points to this year, where he is one of the top scorers this season, averaging over 31 points a night. His scoring ability is impressive, becoming one of the most challenging players to stop.

This season SGA is well on his way to an All-Star season. The Thunder have been starving for a franchise player since losing Westbrook, and there is little doubt that SGA is that star. His point a night may be high, but it goes a lot deeper than that. His offense is fantastic, but his defense is what fans should watch – averaging more blocks per game than Clint Capela, Jarrett Allen, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

He also has more steals on average than Jrue Holiday, Jimmy Butler, and Lu Dort. His improvement on both sides of the floor makes him a star.

SGA has scored over 30 points in 10 of the 15 games this season. The rest of his team struggles to score, and only Josh Giddey is averaging 15 points or more a night, which leads to a heavy load to carry for SGA. Only two players this season are averaging over 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free throw line. One is Steph Curry, while the other is SGA. Being in the same breath as the greatest shooter of all time is nothing short of incredible.

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While we may consider the Thunder a bottom-tier team, SGA is the bright light. His style of play, along with his success and potential All-Star season, will have many fans gathering around their televisions to see SGA play. If he gets the ALL-Star nod, being only 24 years old, the future is bright for the young Canadian.

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