Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finally gets his flowers after World Cup run

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be one of the best players in basketball last season. He upped his scoring average to 31 points per game to go along with nearly five rebounds, as many assists, and 2.6 stocks per game (Steals plus blocks). Even with the scoring uptick, Gilgeous-Alexander remained effective shooting the ball, posting 51 percent from the floor, 34 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent at the charity stripe.

The OKC Thunder, the max contract point guard, was excellent last season, posting 1.067 points per possession in the half-court offense, 1.021 points per possession as a pick-and-roll ball handle, 1.055 points per possession in Isolation, 1.248 points per possession in transition, and 1.586 points per possession on cuts. He also thrived on handoff changes, coming off screens, spot-up opportunities, and especially at the rim.

 The OKC Thunder have seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finally earn his flowers after his epic 2023 FIBA World Cup run.

During the 2023 FIBA World Cup run, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated. The OKC Thunder guard lifted Team Canada to their first medal, finishing third by knocking out Team USA in the Bronze Medal game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also

out-dueled Luka Doncic

in a tilt with Slovenia on his way to that medal contest. His run also featured back-to-back 30-point games in elimination game victories in the FIBA World Cup tournament. This went a long way in

proving last season was no fluke

.

Zach Lowe returned from his Summer vacation to release a new episode of

“The Lowe Post” on the ESPN Podcast Network 

to speak glowingly about the OKC Thunder superstar.

“I think what [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] did in the World Cup, was not only is that real, not only [is Shai] real..[he] might even be better than that. He was so dominant, and at times looked so effortless.” Lowe said.

“If I am a Thunder fan, to me this whole Summer was SGA announcing not only is this real, there is more coming.” the ESPN analyst said of the OKC Thunder point guard who finished fifth in MVP voting a season ago.

Zach Lowe is one of the most powerful and influential voices in the NBA, and his high-end praise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes a long way in building the hype around the Thunder point guard. Oklahoma City is poised to be one of the most fun teams to watch this season.