FS1's Nick Wright has made a career for himself by dropping scorching hot takes with no remorse. However, during a [recent appearance on _The Bill Simmons Podcast_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EEJL1g-dd0&t=367s), the polarizing pundit felt compelled to apologize for a brutal one he never even publicly made about OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
While talking about the 27-year-old with Simmons, Wright went on record saying that if one had asked him three years ago whether he personally believed he would ever be the best player in the league, he would have said, "f\*ck out of here, no!"
He would make his previous stance sound even more absurd by saying that, at best, he would have said Gilgeous-Alexander could be considered the seventh-best player in the NBA.
Now, in 2025-26, it's clear that he's singing a much different tune about the perennial All-NBA selectee, as he and Simmons discussed during the episode where the Thunder star ranks all-time, and, based on both their assessments, he finds himself pushing toward the top-10 in just his eighth season in the association.
Thunder superstar is so good he has Nick Wright apologizing for doubts
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In a span of just a few years, Gilgeous-Alexander has skyrocketed from being a second-to-third option on a middle-of-the-pack playoff team (2019-20 while playing with Chris Paul) to, now, a generational talent.
This isn't just hyperbole, of course. After all, the proof is in the eye test, advanced metrics, and accolades.
Already establishing himself as a three-time All-Star and All-NBA talent, in 2024-25 Gilgeous-Alexander became just the fourth player in league history to win a scoring title, MVP, an NBA Championship, and be crowned Finals MVP all in the same year.
The only other players to accomplish such a feat are Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O'Neal, three sure-fire top-20 talents.
Now in his seventh season in the Sooner State, after taking home such accolades while guiding the Thunder to the fourth-most wins in a single season (68) just last year, Shai now has this team on track to win a whopping 78 games and their second consecutive title, while dropping averages of 32.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 56.2 percent from the floor and 45.4 percent shooting from deep.
The scariest part of all -- [he's only getting better](https://thunderousintentions.com/okc-thunder-steve-nash-says-shai-gilgeous-alexander-greatest-skill).
Nick Wright has made some egregious claims throughout his career, but this one, where he once believed Gilgeous-Alexander may not have the potential to be a top-seven player, let alone the top player in the association, looks to be turning into one of his worst.