The Oklahoma City Thunder have watched as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned into a superstar this season, and gained national media attention right here in Oklahoma City. On Thursday, the NBA released the first returns on the fan vote for the All-Star game starters.
The NBA fan vote has been largely an avenue for NBA fans to release their best memes such as voting for Zaza Pachulia into the All-Star game as a starter for one of the first returns, and last season making Andrew Wiggins a starter for the winter classic. This year, OKC Thunder fans hoped no shenanigans got in the way of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s well-deserved credit.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receive the fourth most NBA All-Star votes among Western Conference Guards, what this means for OKC
The Oklahoma City Thunder have enjoyed the benefits of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming a 30-point-per-game scorer with nearly five rebounds per tilt and dishing out five assists a game. Despite his uptick in scoring, Gilgeous-Alexander has remained efficient shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor, and 35 percent from distance. Those are not his only good shooting splits, the max contract point guard is also shooting a career-high 90 percent at the free-throw line, a career-high 62 percent at the rim, and a career-best 49 percent in the short mid-range highlighted by his baseline turnaround game-winner against the Portland Trail Blazers last month.
As the NBA world has noticed his climb in scoring, the fact he is getting to the line ten times a game, and his All-NBA play, there was still a question if that would translate to a high fan vote. Gilgeous-Alexander plays in a small market and is still four days away from playing his first-ever national tv game as an NBA star.
As the NBA announced the Fan voting, it was impressive to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander slot fourth among NBA Western Conference guards. Not just fourth, but only four thousand votes shy of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant for third place behind global icons Steph Curry and Luka Doncic who finished first and second respectively.
Morant has already bursted onto the scene with playoff games, massive slams, and national spotlight events such as All-Star weekend.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder fanbase to push Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this close to starting in a Western Conference that is loaded in the backcourt with NBA icons, is impressive for such a small market, and for Gilgeous-Alexander to declare himself and demand the respect from non-Thunder fan voters without playing a National TV game in his current form can not be undersold.
Voting will continue until Janurary 21st on the NBA’s website and app, by the next voting check in, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have played in the Miami Heat on TNT, and impressed an even larger audience.