The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s entrance workplace couldn’t have envisaged the meteoric rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after they traded for him in 2019.
Becoming a member of after a season for the LA Clippers the place he averaged slightly below 11 factors, he has completed this time period as a nominee for the common season MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the focus of Oklahoma’s rise to the highest of the Western Convention, bettering final season’s marketing campaign the place they didn’t make the play-offs.
The 25-year-old is correct up there by way of offensive output, hitting 30.4 factors per recreation – the second highest within the league.
However on the different finish, he’s simply as sturdy on defence with a mean of two steals per match.
His abilities in isolation, on transition, and within the decide and roll have stood out.
The younger Thunder squad, identified for not solely their on-court brilliance but in addition their impressive post-game barking, external, have made waves within the league this yr and pulled off a clear sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans within the first spherical.