All-Star and selected to the All-NBA First Team in 2023, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would make a great MVP of the season. His team is at the top of the Western Conference, its consistency is remarkable, and its stats speak in its favor: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 interceptions. At 56% on shots. These are MVP stats!
Last night, in the victory against the Magic, “SGA” played “SGA”. Methodically, with his mastery of tempo, he went to provoke the Magic's defense. Each time, the basket, but above all the fault. Six times, the Thunder guard will recover the And-1. Six times, he will score the additional free throw. When we see that he puts up 37 points without scoring a single 3-pointer, we say to ourselves that his method is just as effective for scoring three points.
“I do a lot of upper body strength training,” he explains about his ability to absorb shocks and score despite contact. “That’s the main thing I work on during the summer. And then I always work on my touch around the basket. I'm trying to concentrate. When you get hit and you have a chance to get a third point, it's worth concentrating for a second to try to score three points. »
Taking it together is a trap
Faced with a Magic team deprived of five elements of its rotation, the Canadian played puppeteers with his defenders.
He moves an entire block with his dribbles, and once he is on his feet and has established the distance with his defender, it's over! While he failed at 3-points, SGA scored a superb 13 out of 16 at 2-points.
“Shai is a difficult fullback to defend,” recognizes Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley. “We throw several defenders at him, and it’s when you take him two that he takes the advantage. That’s what makes him a great player.”
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | LAKE | 82 | 27 | 47.6 | 36.7 | 80.0 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 10.8 |
| 2019-20 | OKAY | 70 | 35 | 47.1 | 34.7 | 80.7 | 0.7 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 19.0 |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 35 | 34 | 50.8 | 41.8 | 80.8 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 23.7 |
| 2021-22 | OKAY | 56 | 35 | 45.3 | 30.0 | 81.0 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 24.5 |
| 2022-23 | OKAY | 68 | 36 | 51.0 | 34.5 | 90.5 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 31.4 |
| 2023-24 | OKAY | 36 | 34 | 55.5 | 35.2 | 89.0 | 0.8 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 31.4 |
| Total | 347 | 33 | 49.3 | 34.8 | 85.1 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 22.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
