Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into one of the NBA's most dominant forces. But even a championship-winning coach like Doc Rivers didn't see this level of superstardom coming. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has shattered expectations.
As of this writing, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 33.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game while leading the Thunder to a 56-12 record, which is currently the best in the Western Coference. He is firmly in the MVP conversation for this season.
His rise has been nothing short of remarkable-and even Rivers, who coached him as a rookie with the Los Angeles Clippers, admits he never saw this coming.
"I don't think anybody in the world saw this in him," Rivers told The Associated Press. "We did think he was going to be really, really good. I thought he was going to be a star. I said it when we traded him. But to see this, I don't think anyone can honestly say they knew he was going to be this special."
Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved from a promising young guard into an MVP-caliber superstar, displaying an elite scoring ability and defensive prowess that make him nearly unstoppable. His footwork, pace and efficiency have drawn comparisons to the greats and his ability to take over games has propelled Oklahoma City back into title contention.
In fact, he recently joined Michael Jordan (1986-93) as the only players in the last 40 years to record 40 or more games of 30-plus points in three straight seasons.
Once seen as a future star, SGA is now something greater-one of the best players in the world. Even those who believed in him from the start, like Rivers, are left in awe.
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This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM.