There’s no denying that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the rising stars in the NBA.
And it’s not just because he was selected to the Rising Stars Challenge in back-to-back years.
In his very first game in OKC, he posted a new career-high, a number he has bested multiple times since then, and he’s made team history, as well as NBA history, on several different occasions.
In his first season in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Thunder in both points (19.3) and minutes (35.0) per game and is second in rebounds per game (6.1) behind Steven Adams.
Although Nick Crain of Forbes points out that “second-year players typically don’t win an award like this due to the jump from year one to year two being expected” Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth during his second season is enough to put him in contention to be the NBA’s most improved player.
Looking at his stats from his rookie season with the Clippers compared to this season with the Thunder, he has nearly doubled his production in several statistical categories, including points and rebounds. The fact that Gilgeous-Alexander is just 21 years old and leads a top ten NBA team in scoring is extremely impressive. Outside of Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, there are very few players who you can say this about.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s improvement from his rookie season has been exponential, and his play has been a vital part of the Thunder’s surprising success this year.
Bringing him in as part of the deal for Paul George is not only part of what makes Sam Presti a candidate for the NBA Executive of the Year, but it’s one of the biggest reasons why the Thunder are set up for future success, as Gilgeous-Alexander has established himself this season as the up and coming face of the franchise.
Check out some of the best highlights from Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout season: