Tag: 2020 Skills Challenge

SGA vows to ‘practice his passing’ after loss in Skills Challenge

Gilgeous-Alexander was eliminated by the Bucks’ Khris Middleton in the first round of Saturday night’s Skills Challenge.

If it wasn’t for that pesky passing target.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander probably would’ve advanced in Saturday night’s Skills Challenge. Instead, he was beaten by Khris Middleton, the two-time All-Star for the Milwaukee Bucks who made his first pass and hit his second 3-point attempt to knock out SGA.

Gilgeous-Alexander fell behind Middleton when his first pass ricocheted off the side of the passing target. He also missed his second attempt, before finally connecting on his third.

He told Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman after the competition that “he knew” the passing skill would be the problem.

“Yeah, I’m going to practice a little more passing from now on and hopefully I’ll have the same opportunity from now on.”

When asked what makes that particular skill so difficult in the challenge setting, Gilgeous-Alexander said that he felt like he “rushed the passing”.

“When I thought about it, I think that’s what it was. I was trying to just fire it in there. When you get there just take your time and make an accurate pass. It goes by faster, obviously.”

Overall, Gilgeous-Alexander has had a successful All-Star Weekend despite getting knocked out of his first Skills Challenge.

He also scored 16 points in Team World’s 151-131 loss to Team USA in the Rising Stars Game on Friday night, where he showcased some crazy handles and his patented Shai scoop.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eliminated in first round of Skills Challenge

He lost to Khris Middleton from the Milwaukee Bucks. Bam Adebayo won the Skills Challenge, defeating former OKC center Domantas Sabonis.

The trend of the big men showing up and showing out during the Skills Challenge continued on Saturday night. Much to the detriment of Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander was matched up against Khris Middleton, the two-time All-Star from the Milwaukee Bucks during the first round of the Skills Challenge.

Neither player had difficulty dribbling around the obstacles during the ball-handling portion of the challenge, but things broke down for Gilgeous-Alexander when he got to the pass.

While Middleton hit the target on his first pass, SGA’s was off the mark. He then didn’t know where the ball rack was, turning the wrong direction and losing precious seconds. He missed his next pass before finally hitting his third.

Both players made the layup and Gilgeous-Alexander almost caught Middleton at the end. Middleton’s first 3-point attempt was long off the back of the iron, and SGA put up a shot from around the hash mark to try and win the round on a heave.

His shot wasn’t off by much, but Middleton knocked down his second 3-point try for the victory.

Middleton lost to former Thunder center, Domantas Sabonis in the second round.

Sabonis then lost to the Heat’s Bam Adebayo in the final.

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 16 as Team World falls to Team USA 151-131

The Thunder guard was one of six players for Team World to score in double figures but Team USA won the Rising Stars Challenge 151-131.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the Rising Stars Game as the All-Star festivities kicked off inside the United Center in Chicago on Friday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 7-of-15 from the floor and was one of four starters that played 24 minutes for Team World, as they fell to Team USA 151-131.

Fellow Canadian, RJ Barrett, scored a game-high 27 points and was one the players throwing it down as the game devolved into an impromptu dunk contest in the final minutes.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored the majority of his points in the first half, heading into the break with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

Two of those came on a play where SGA showed off his crazy handles, going behind his back and between his legs to get past both Ja Morant and Trae Young, before finishing at the rim with his signature Shai scoop.

It’s was the second consecutive appearance in the Rising Stars Game for Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out six assists in Team World’s 161-144 loss to Team USA.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s All-Star Weekend isn’t over just yet.

He will represent the Thunder on Saturday night when he participates in his first Skills Challenge, taking the place of Pistons guard, Derrick Rose, who won the competition back in 2009.

Rose withdrew from the competition last week due to a reported injury.

What SGA’s second Rising Stars Game means for his All-Star future

Gilgeous-Alexander is playing in his second-straight Rising Stars Game and is one of four Canadians on the roster for Team World.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned a starting nod in Friday night’s Rising Stars Game that kicked off the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

A member of Team World, it’s the second-straight Rising Stars appearance for Gilgeous-Alexander, who was selected to last year’s squad as a rookie.

In that game, he scored 15 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out six assists, although Team USA beat Team World, 161-144.

In his first season for Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander is the Thunder’s leading scorer, averaging 19.5 points per game and second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.1 boards per game.

It’s not just the statistics that have earned Gilgeous-Alexander a spot showcasing his talents inside the United Center, although they certainly don’t hurt.

He has displayed exponential growth since coming to OKC, essentially ensuring that the Thunder, whenever they do decide to rebuild, won’t have to hit rock bottom before they’re capable of bouncing back and being a title contender.

Gilgeous-Alexander is one of four Canadians on the Team World roster this year, joined by his cousin Nickeil Walker-Alexander, RJ Barrett, and Brandon Clarke.

As noted by Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, Gilgeous-Alexander’s selection to a second-straight Rising Stars Game as a good indicator of future All-Star appearances. According to Mussatto, in the 25 years that the NBA has held a Rising Stars Game (formerly the Rookie Challenge) 30.5% of the players who participated have gone on to be All-Stars.

And if Gilgeous-Alexander keeps producing plays like the behind the back, through the legs, Shai scoop, it probably won’t be much longer.

Gilgeous-Alexander is also competing in Saturday night’s Skills Challenge, replacing Derrick Rose who dropped out due to injury.