Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Says National Recognition Comes With Becoming 'Better Basketball Player'
The Oklahoma City Thunder is 37-17 through the All-Star break behind MVP-level play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While he finished No. 5 in MVP voting a season ago, Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to follow up his elite play with another season posting similar stats has finally helped him garner the proper amount of attention.
Evidently, the level of play from the 6-foot-6 superstar is among those atop the league. There is absolutely no reason Gilgeous-Alexander shouldn't get as much respect or praise around the league as the other best players in the NBA.
So far, the Thunder guard is averaging 31.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 34.5 minutes per game. With the Thunder holding one of the top records in the Western Conference paired with his statistics, there's no reason Gilgeous-Alexander shouldn't remain in the MVP conversation in the latter half of the season.
During All-Star Weekend -- where the Kentucky product was an All-Star starter for the Western Conference -- Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis said Gilgeous-Alexander deserves more praise.
“Maybe Shai," Davis said of who deserves more praise. "I mean he gets talked about but maybe not to the extent that he should. They’re playing great basketball, OKC is playing great basketball. He’s obviously leading the charge."
On top of this, Phoenix Suns star and former Thunder star Kevin Durant included Gilgeous-Alexander when speaking of the future faces of the league. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry said the same thing.
"It's one of those things I expected to happen as I [became] a better basketball player," Gilgeous-Alexander said of the attention. "It comes with it. It's fun. It's stuff I dream about... I've been dreaming about this moment, this point of my career, I know what comes with it."
While the Thunder continues climbing the totem pole of NBA competition and reaching new heights as a franchise, the team will continue to receive more and more attention and recognition. Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the leader of the team, will be at the forefront of that attention.
Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
