Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the current favorite to win league MVP because he’s the driving force behind a top-ranked OKC Thunder squad that’s absolutely crushing opponents on average by 13 points per 100 possessions.
For context, only the 1996 Chicago Bulls have produced a larger single-season net rating.
Everyone may acknowledge the guard's greatness this season, but it’s difficult to understand just how unprecedented his scoring has been until diving into the numbers.
The OKC Thunder superstar is unstoppable when inside the arc
At 34.6 points per 75 possessions, SGA currently ranks fourth in single-season scoring when adjusted for pace behind 1987 Michael Jordan, 2019 James Harden, and 2023 Joel Embiid.
Although that production is mighty impressive, the Thunder star's efficiency somehow deserves more praise.
He has been masterful with his scoring abilities at any area inside the arc and truly lacks any competition at his position. It may sound like an exaggeration, but the numbers agree.
These are the best single-season two-point percentages for some of the most prolific guard scorers in league history (minimum 20 points per game):
- Dwyane Wade (55.7 percent)
- James Harden (55.6 percent)
- Michael Jordan (55.3 percent)
- Jerry West (51.4 percent)
- Kobe Bryant (51 percent)
Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, is knocking down 60.1 percent of his two-point attempts this season!
That’s on par with the prime seasons of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. It even surpasses Joel Embiid’s best effort back in 2022-23.
What’s even more absurd is SGA’s all-around game inside the arc.
Imagine a player who has the same efficiency as Giannis Antetokounmpo around the basket, Nikola Jokic inside the paint, Kevin Durant from midrange, and Kyrie Irving at the charity stripe.
Essentially, that's what you have in the 6-foot-5 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
- Restricted area efficiency: SGA (73.7) vs. Antetokounmpo (73.6)
- Paint efficiency: SGA (62.3) vs. Jokic (62.2)
- Midrange efficiency: SGA (53.7) vs. Durant (54.1)
- Free throw efficiency: SGA (90) vs. Irving (90.3)
Overall, it’s more than reasonable to say that the Thunder cornerstone is having the most prolific inside-the-arc scoring season of any guard in NBA history. SGA’s combination of volume, efficiency, and versatility knows no equal.
If the three-time All-Star manages to develop into a legitimate long-range threat, he'd have virtually zero holes as a scorer. Frankly, as things currently stand, he’s not far off from such a destinction.
The 26-year-old upped his three-point volume to 5.7 attempts per game and is sinking 35.2 percent of his triples. A few more percentage points and defenders will start to absolutely dread the idea of forcing him to settle for long-range shots rather than allow him to infiltrate the interior.
Whether the Thunder manage to win the title or not, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is cementing his 2025 season as one of basketball’s greatest scoring displays ever.