The highlight of the season for the Oklahoma City Thunder is the superstar leap Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made.
After averaging 18.2 points on 47.3% shooting in his first four seasons combined, Gilgeous-Alexander is having a career year. He is averaging 31 points on 50.6% shooting, 5.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds in 26 games this season. The Thunder are 11-17 and in 13th place in the Western Conference.
It seems Gilgeous-Alexander’s season is getting recognition at a national level.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps published the first straw poll edition of the 2022-23 NBA season. The straw poll is conducted during every third of an NBA season with 100 NBA media members from all 28 markets filling out a ballot with five players.
The point system goes as follows: 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for second, five points for third, three points for fourth and one point for fifth.
Gilgeous-Alexander received his first vote in Bontemps’ straw poll system with one fifth-place vote. In total, 13 players received at least one point.
Boston Celtic star Jayson Tatum leads the way with 759 points. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is second at 687 points.
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