OKC Thunder: 3 stars SGA should rank ahead of on NBA top 30+ list

Motivational fuel for Gilgeous-Alexander

There is more than ample evidence to question why Gilgeous-Alexander missed this prestigious list of top 30 NBA players. At the very least his name should’ve been included among the Honorable Mentions.

Only a handful of players consistently register among these categories who don’t rank in the top 40 noted above:  Brandon Ingram, Malcolm Brogdon, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and SGA. But, even that quartet doesn’t compare to the Thunder captain in both statistical production and efficiency.

Look, presumably Shai got punished for only playing 35 games last season, but there is no denying his efficiency. Moreover, he was the only player of this quintet without a teammate also landing on these lists. That perhaps more than any statistical category was the most impressive part of his 2020-21 season.

Ultimately, the fact ten NBA analysts and experts left the Canadian off their top 30 list, and honorable mentions should serve as motivation for him.  Damian Lillard spent several years fueling himself by All-Star snubs. With the OKC Thunder committed to tanking he’ll need something to spur him on.

This is the perfect fodder to begin that process!