SGA: Meteoric Rise to NBA Glory, Potential Legend?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The New NBA Star Ascends to Olympus

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 103-91 victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last Sunday marked the coronation of a franchise that wins its first title since arriving in OKC. But, in addition, it was the definitive consecration of its star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander capped off one of the most successful individual seasons in NBA history, with 29 points and 12 assists in the final game, becoming the fifth player with a 20-10 performance in a seventh Finals game. In the 2024-25 season, Gilgeous-Alexander won the scoring title, the MVP, and the championship, leading his team to the best point differential in history. And to close out this dream year, he could sign a four-year contract extension for $293.4 million, which would give him the highest average salary in the history of the sport. At 26 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander is rapidly climbing the list of all-time greats. Alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, they are the only players in NBA history to win the MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring title before turning 27. After this historic achievement and the peak moment for Oklahoma City, we analyze Gilgeous-Alexander’s surprising rise, his growing legacy, and his impressive statistical comparisons.

A Path of Legends Towards the Title

Gilgeous-Alexander’s path to the top of the NBA was not easy. In high school, he was the number 30 recruit, behind several prospects who didn’t make it to the NBA. In his only college season, he wasn’t his team’s top scorer, finishing second behind Kevin Knox II.

Despite being chosen in the draft as number 11, he was traded twice in his first year in the NBA: first, on draft night, from the Charlotte Hornets to the LA Clippers for Miles Bridges, and then, the following summer, as part of the trade that brought Paul George to Oklahoma City. Although he impressed in his first season, he was only included in the second All-Rookie team.

While not the most unexpected MVP and champion, Gilgeous-Alexander has far exceeded expectations. In 2018, ESPN compared him to Shaun Livingston and Patrick McCaw, two players who never averaged double digits in points. Seven years later, Gilgeous-Alexander is a sure Hall of Famer. Compared to the NBA 75th Anniversary guards, he already has the same number of All-NBA First Team nominations (three) as Isiah Thomas, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, and Tiny Archibald. In addition, he surpasses legends like Lenny Wilkens, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, John Stockton, Gary Payton, Pete Maravich, Earl Monroe, Reggie Miller, Damian Lillard, Sam Jones, Hal Greer, Dave Bing, and Ray Allen. In other words, Gilgeous-Alexander is not only a future Hall of Famer, but also a Top 50 player, depending on how peaks and overall trajectory are valued. At 26 years old, he still doesn’t have the total statistics of many of those aforementioned legends. However, with his MVP rankings (first, second, and fifth place), Gilgeous-Alexander already holds the 35th position in history in terms of accumulated MVP votes. One more decent season would catapult him into the top 30, and two solid seasons would place him among the top 20.

Supreme Annotation Skills

Although he is a complete player, his greatest skill is scoring. He is one of the 15 players in NBA history to average at least 30 points in three different seasons. The Thunder’s guard combines his impressive scoring volume with elite efficiency, thanks to his mastery of the mid-range, his finishing ability, and his ability to convert his free throws with a percentage close to 90%. Gilgeous-Alexander and Adrian Dantley are the only players in NBA history with at least three seasons of 30 points per game with a true shooting percentage of 62% or higher. Gilgeous-Alexander excels in all the most important types of play in the modern NBA. In the last three seasons, he ranks second among 128 players with at least 300 isolation points per isolation. He also ranks fourth among 100 players with at least 1,500 ball-handler screens in points per pick. And he is the undisputed king of drives, leading that category every season. High point totals don’t always translate into postseason success. However, Gilgeous-Alexander has combined individual success with even greater success for the team. Since the invention of the shot clock, only Gilgeous-Alexander, Jordan (six times), Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have won the scoring title and the championship in the same season. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 32.7 points per game in the 2024-25 regular season are the most for any player in NBA history who won a championship that season, surpassing Jordan’s 32.6 points per game in 1992-93. Gilgeous-Alexander also surpasses Jordan in the highest usage rate for a champion, with 34.8% versus Jordan’s 34.7% in 1992-93.

Here’s a comparative chart between the last three seasons of Gilgeous-Alexander and those of Jordan from 1991 to 1993, possibly the most successful three-season period for a guard in NBA history. Jordan won three titles in this span, while Gilgeous-Alexander won one. However, offensively, their numbers are eerily similar.

What’s Next for the SGA Legacy?

The presence of Gilgeous-Alexander seems underestimated amidst the celebration of Oklahoma City’s comprehensive roster construction. A team with Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and a plethora of picks would still be promising, but would it be any better than, for example, a Western Conference version of the Orlando Magic? Without Gilgeous-Alexander, they wouldn’t be NBA champions with the best point differential in league history. The depth and youth are fantastic, but winning the title requires MVP-level talent, and that’s the biggest advantage Gilgeous-Alexander gives the Thunder. It’s the main reason they went so quickly from rebuilding to lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, all that depth and youth, not to mention Williams and Holmgren, should be vital to polishing Gilgeous-Alexander’s legacy. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, because for SGA to climb the historical NBA rankings, he will essentially need more championships. That’s a difficult task in the modern NBA. Oklahoma City is the best-positioned team since the mid-2010s Golden State Warriors to start a dynasty. NBA fans have been spoiled by numerous all-time greats in recent years. However, given his youth, his achievements to date, and the opportunity for sustained team success, the pedestal is his for the taking.