OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is destined to be a future All-Star
The Jump panel debated whether OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can ascend to All-Star status. Based on early reviews SGA seems destined for that achievement.
There are so many questions which can be asked of this OKC Thunder team. However, Amin Elhassan and The Jump panel posed a very interesting one. Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a potential future All-Star? Fast forward to 1:33 of the attached video below for the discussion.
The question and the analysis came off the back of the game-high 24 points he poured in against the Dallas Mavericks in the team’s first preseason game. Gilgeous-Alexander looked comfortable running the offense and played at his own pace, according to Matt Barnes.
After a tremendous rookie season where he was named to the All-Rookie second team, future All-Star still may seem to be a long bow to draw. The first response was the most sensible answer I have heard to this sort of question in a long time. “You don’t want to put too many expectations on a kid so early, but man he looked smooth.” And smooth is the best way to describe the 21-year old Canadian.
There is no question that the OKC Thunder are looking to make Gilgeous-Alexander the face of their franchise for a long time. In this light, it is advantageous to have a mentor like Chris Paul available so that Gilgeous-Alexander is able to accelerate his learning?
Fortunately, his decision making on the court is already of the highest order. When Darius Bazley drove towards the hoop in the first quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander is already pointing to Terrance Ferguson. Then Ferguson cuts to the hoop, and Bazley finds him for the thunderous dunk. This just shows that Gilgeous-Alexander has the ability to see plays before they unfold. Not a bad skill for a point guard.
Also, Barnes points out, LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers did not want to lose Gilgeous-Alexander but the opportunity to pair Paul George up with Kawhi Leonard was too great a temptation to resist.
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The Clippers might have traded away their future star though, and he was probably the critical piece for the OKC Thunder in the George trade.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Steven Adams, Chris Paul, Dario Gallinari, and Dennis Shroeder are the nucleus of this team. This means the Thunder are not going to be as bad as most pundits predicted, and most fans feared after the trades of Russell Westbrook and George.
The OKC Thunder will probably miss the playoffs this season but that is because they are in the stacked Western Conference. If they were in the East many people believe they would be playoff bound.
Next. Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ready to be the face of the Thunder?. dark
The question remains, can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be an All-Star. The answer to this question will be answered over time and that answer, in my opinion, is a resounding yes. If Gilgeous-Alexander is this good at the start of year two, then his rise is going to be meteoric.