OKC Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Listed No. 1 in HoopsHype Global Rating
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s season has seen him take yet another leap in his young and promising career.
From all accounts, he’s one of the best all-around guards in the league — if the not the best currently.
in HoopsHype Global Rating rankings, Gilgeous-Alexander was listed at No. 1 overall.
At 25 years old, the 6-foot-6 guard is beginning to enter the very upper echelon of guards in the NBA — and arguably has been for a while — which was a result of the noticeable upside and progression within his six years in the league.
The attention he grabs immediately makes his teammates around him bigger threats, as his decision-making, playmaking and pace all comprise a great impact of his offensive game.
Defensively, his impact relies on his response at the point of attack, perkiness as a pick pocket and length to challenge bigger guards and wings at the rim.
On the season averaging 31.4 points in the league on 54.8% shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists, Gilgeous-Alexander leading Oklahoma City to No. 2 in the league has only increased the the attention he receives this year.
As a result, his teammates are stepping up to maintain their high level of play — seen when Jalen Williams posted 36 points alongside Gilgeous-Alexander’s 36 against the New York Knicks in the past week.
It’s a trickling effect, and Gilgeous-Alexander is at the start of it.
He currently sits at No. 4 in the MVP race behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.
In the Thunder guard’s last 11 games, he’s notched 30-plus points in each one and 40-plus points in two of them.
Beating some of the top teams in the Western Conference recently and putting these numbers up against each of their teams’ top on-ball, perimeter defenders, Gilgeous-Alexander seems to thrive on these difficult tasks thrown at him.
He’s in his flow and the Thunder is too — as each continue to impress.
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