Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solidified his place as one of the most dominant scoring forces in NBA history. With a scoring title and three completed seasons over 30.0 points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander has set down roots at heights most can only dream of even reaching.
One of the primary manners in which Gilgeous-Alexander continues to dominate teams has somehow flown under the radar, however, as he thrives in the unguarded area along the baseline.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a student of the game, and his success in this regard is reminiscent of New York Knicks legend Bernard King. King famously developed a hot spot along the baseline that allowed him to willingly dribble into no man's land and knock down jumpers that became impossible to defend.
During a recent episode of The Zach Lowe Show, Zach Lowe discussed the fascinating shot with Mo Dakhil and how it's become a staple in Gilgeous-Alexander's game.
"My favorite Shai shot is he loves the dead zone along the baseline like 17 feet away from the rim. He dribbles into that space. It's not just the classic elbow jumpers. He dribbles down into that dead zone where nobody goes. Defenses are like, 'What are you doing here?' And he loves that shot. It feels like it's a 60 percent shot for him. It feels like it's almost his go-to shot."
Gilgeous-Alexander is a scorer with no holes in his game, but his specialty is exactly what makes him a truly unstoppable force in that regard.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander channeling Bernard King with baseline brilliance
Gilgeous-Alexander is currently shooting 48.1 percent on midrange jump shots, which is an elite mark to be expected of the reigning MVP. More specific to Lowe's point, he's shooting 50.0 percent on 38 attempts from 15-to-19 feet through 15 games.
It's a sustainable figure considering Gilgeous-Alexander shot 49.4 percent from 15-to-19 feet in 2024-25, when he won the scoring title at 32.7 points per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander has also shot a blinding 56.2 percent on 73 attempts from 10-to-14 feet. That success from between 10 and 19 feet has made him impossible to defend, as his efficient finishing around the rim and three-point shooting are by no means required for his success.
Gilgeous-Alexander clearly isn't as complete of a player when those shots aren't falling, but his ability to operate anywhere within 10 and 19 feet at an elite level is undeniably valuable.
Gilgeous-Alexander has somehow raised his game early in 2025-26, increasing his slash line from .519/.375/.898 to .531/.386/.904. His success from midrange and along the baseline has been a driving force behind his uptick in efficiency.
Gilgeous-Alexander has not only won an MVP and a scoring title, but a championship by playing his game—and his confidence in his abilities has reached an all-time high.
With the ability to torment teams from midrange and get to spots most don't venture into, Oklahoma City has added yet another unique wrinkle to its success. Even with Jalen Williams sidelined, Gilgeous-Alexander is getting to his spots on the average possession and in clutch moments alike.
With the confidence to know that he can perform at not only an MVP-caliber level, but that of a champion, Gilgeous-Alexander is setting the pace for a second straight Thunder title.