OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already established himself as one of the game's best and most effective offensive weapons.
From averaging 42.2 points per 100 possessions over the last two seasons to his all-time best and third-best offensive standard deviation rates (2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively), over the last several seasons the 26-year-old has become one of the greatest and most efficient scoring threats the league has ever seen.
Yet, despite these undeniable truths, there are some who are under the impression that the Oklahoma City cornerstone still could use for some refinement to his scoring repertoire, especially when it comes to his long-range shooting abilities.
For his career, Gilgeous-Alexander has shot 34.9 percent from beyond the arc, with his most recent campaign seeing a conversion rate of 35.3 which, though respectable, is far from earth shattering.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's jumper could win him MVP
Throughout the majority of his career, the Thunder stud's bread-and-butter has been attacking the lane and finishing in and around the painted area. In 2023-24, he averaged a league-leading 23.3 drives per game and generated 604 of his 2,254 total points at the rim.
Because of this desire to drive, SGA was also frequently sent to the line due to inside contact and clocked in with the fourth-most foul shots at 8.7 per game.
To some, this is considered strategy. Others, however, view it as him being a "free throw merchant," a moniker that, though easy to debunk, likely played a role in his runner-up finish in the league's MVP race rather than seeing him take home the hardware himself.
In truth, there appears to be little reason or logic behind why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ended up coming in second behind Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. He had higher scoring averages (30.1), led the league in steals per game (2.0), and, most importantly, guided the Thunder to the number one seed in the Western Conference standings.
From an all-around perspective, the Thunder guard's game is almost flawless, as he can score, distribute, and defend at elite levels.
However, perhaps the one thing that's keeping him from shedding the "almost" in this aforementioned descriptor is his long-range jumper.
Should he find a way to improve upon his success rate and efficiency from distance, there may not be any more excuses for him to not be labeled the best player in the league and, in turn, be the front-runner to come away with the Michael Jordan trophy in 2024-25
Though it may be a small sample size, early signs from throughout preseason play suggest Gilgeous-Alexander is heading toward a special campaign from beyond the arc.
On top of the fact that he's converting at a whopping 62.5 percent from distance, he's doing so while hoisting 4.0 attempts per game.
Oklahoma City's latest outing against the Denver Nuggets saw him splash home three of his six attempts from 3-point range and showcased a release that, compared to last year, seems much quicker and more confident -- take his heavily contested corner trey from the first quarter of play, for example.
This volume is already higher than what he was accustomed to last year (3.6 attempts per game), and it's coming in just one-half of action.
Assuming he can keep up this level of consistency, the Thunder star could very well end up putting forth one of, if not the best 3-point shooting season of his career. If this is added to yet another 30-plus points per game and 50-plus win campaign, there should be zero doubt that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player Award.