Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tabbed as an NBA All-Star

The Oklahoma City Thunder have yet another All-Star representative. The NBA announced today that max contract point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named to the NBA All-Star roster.

The OKC Thunder are one of the surprising stories of the NBA season so far, sitting within two games of the NBA postseason in a year that many of the most notable pundits around the sport pegged them for twenty wins in their preseason predictions. Along with their promising young core, that is in large part due to the superstar outburst from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City Thunder sees their 5th All-Star since relocation, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, tabbed for his first All-Star appearance in Salt Lake City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on a rampage, playing in 47 games so far this season, scoring nearly 31 points per game (30.8), almost five rebounds (4.8), and five assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor, 36 percent from deep, and 91 percent at the line. His effective field goal percentage is sitting at 53 percent.

Gilgeous-Alexander is sitting on a career-high 62 percent true shooting percentage, with a career-high 7.8 win shares and a career-best 27.1 PER.

According to cleaning the glass, the 24-year-old point guard is shooting 62 percent at the rim, representing a career-high. SGA is shooting 49 percent in the short mid-range, 44 percent in the extended mid-range, and 47 percent in the total mid-range, which all are career-best marks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 1.418 points per possession on all offensive positions according to synergy while ranking in the 88th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball handler, 87th percentile on post-ups, and 94th percentile on cuts.

However, SGA is not a one-sided player. Synergy grades the max contract point guard to be an excellent defender ranking in the 85th percentile of points per possession. In addition, gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 1.7 steals per game and 1.1 blocks per game, both career-best marks.

Since relocating to Oklahoma City, the Thunder have put five all-stars into the mid-winter classic. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins the elite company of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Chris Paul.

While we have been highly spoiled as a fanbase, do not take this for granted. Ask the Hornets, the Kings, and the Wizards, among other teams; you do not just get this caliber of player to fall into your lap. Especially in such short order.

This is the first All-Star appearance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career and will be the first of many.