Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was drafted by the Clippers with the 11th overall pick in 2018. He had a very good rookie season averaging respectable numbers: 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal per game. In the playoffs, he averaged a very healthy 14 points, three boards and dimes a game. Despite showing too much promise, he was involved in the blockbuster trade that helped them land Paul George. This might’ve been a good thing for Alexander in terms of development, however.
He was traded to the rebuilding Thunder after his rookie season but it wasn’t a bad thing whatsoever. He was teamed up with the point god, Chris Paul who was his mentor for the season. Even though they were supposed to be rebuilding, they managed to make the playoffs. They did the impossible and took the championship-contending Rockets to seven games. After losing in Game 7, the Thunder realized it was time to make a change.
Gilgeous-Alexander ended his sophomore year not in a slump, but progressed in a major way. He upped his averages to a beefy 19 points, six rebounds and three assists a game. He also averaged a career high 34.7 minutes a game. Not only did he increase his point average by nine and rebound average by three, but he proved that the Thunder got a steal in him.
The Thunder traded away all of their vets leaving Shai and Dort to handle the bulk of the offense. Shai was blooming into a bona fide star in his third season and raised his averages even more. He went from 19 to 23.7 points and 3.3 assists to 5.9 assists a game. We haven’t even seen what he looks like at his max potential and we might not see that for a while. The Thunder are probably pretty happy that they decided to make the trade involving Paul George.
His potential is gleaming right now and his coaching staff must be salivating at the thought of it. He has upped his averages at the end of every season and has looked more and more like a superstar. Now, no one knows who the Thunder are going to draft next year and if it’ll affect his numbers in anyway, but what everyone knows is that he won’t let it affect him in anyway. Clearly, this is his team and no ones taking it away from him anytime soon. He has proven that he will be an all-star in this league and the numbers prove it.
In the next couple of years, he will make an all-star team. His determination and his will to consistently improve year after year will eventually land him an all-star bid. He has the potential to make an All-NBA team as well and it won’t be surprising to see him land on one. It won’t be surprising to see him average more points and assists in the next couple seasons, but the emergence of Dort and possibly Cade Cunningham might hinder him just a little bit. Despite these factors, this team is looking so fun and it’s because of Shai and crew. Don’t sleep on this squad in the next two or three years because Shai will make them reappear on the map in no time.
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