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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has caught the attention of several basketball analysts, including Charles Barkley. “Sir Chuck” spoke in glowing terms about the OKC Thunder guard while covering the NBA for TNT last night.
Here’s what the Hall of Famer said about Gilgeous-Alexander’s emergence this season:
“If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not starting in the All-Star game, we’re not gonna let the public vote again. He should be starting at the two-spot in the Western Conference, easily.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken a huge leap this season. He is averaging 31.1 points per game, which is nearly seven points better than what he averaged last season. “SGA” is also putting up career-best numbers in assists (6.1 APG), steals (1.7 SPG) and blocks (1.2 BPG). His 50.6% efficiency from the field and 91.9% free-throw accuracy are also the highest of his career.
Most importantly, he has become the franchise player that the OKC Thunder have been hoping for since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook left the team. He is the metronome that usually dictates how the OKC Thunder perform in every game.
Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the NBA with 15 30+ point games this season. He only had 20 such games in the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign. “SGA” is third in the league in scoring, giving the Thunder a legit scoring threat that opponents have to game plan for.
For Charles Barkley’s demand to come true, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have to beat Ja Morant, Devin Booker, and Luka Doncic for that honor. Last season, Steph Curry came in second to LeBron James as the top vote-getter.
Curry is the reigning NBA Finals MVP and the franchise player of the defending champ Golden State Warriors. He is likely grabbing one of the two guard spots in the starting lineup.
Luka Doncic may be the Canadian basketball superstar’s biggest competitor for the starting guard spot to play alongside Steph Curry. The Serbian leads the NBA in scoring, triple-doubles and MVP rankings. Dislodging Doncic will be tough as he is the more popular player than "SGA" and with more All-Star selections under his belt.
Charles Barkley may have to be content with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing as an All-Star reserve
At the very least, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should make the All-Star team this season. He is putting up more or less similar numbers as Ja Morant did when the Memphis Grizzlies point guard made the All-Star team last season.
Early into the season, it seemed like Steph Curry and Luka Doncic will be a cinch to grab the two starting guard spots. Voting is 50% by fans, 25% from NBA players and 25% from the media. Taking one of the two starting guard spots is not impossible, as Morant did last year, but very unlikely.
Morant took the NBA by storm last season with his gravity-defying acts on both ends of the floor. It also didn’t hurt that he was a social media staple, actively going back and forth with fans and players.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game isn’t similar to that of Morant’s and his Twitter presence isn’t as loud either. The season is long and anything can still happen. But if “SGA” lands even just a reserve spot in the All-Star team, Charles Barkley should have no complaints.
