Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder Breakout Taking NBA By Storm

Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA News
NBA Analysis Network

Every season in the NBA some players break through and ascend to that next level of production. While there is still plenty of time for players to emerge, some players are already making their impact felt at a higher level than previously in their careers. The player that has ascended the most this season is arguably Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been a productive player throughout his career, which earned him a max rookie extension during the 2021 offseason. Some people were unsure he was worth such a large sum of money, but in the first season of the extension, he is proving that he is worth every penny.

Career highs are being achieved in multiple statistics for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the centerpiece of the Thunder’s rebuild. His averages of 31.1 points, 6.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks would all be career bests if they are sustained. The same would go for the 51.5 percent from the field that he is shooting and his free throw shooting percentage of 92.2 percent.

The efficiency is very impressive as Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 68.9 percent at the rim and 50.4 percent of his jumpers from 10 feet away from the basket out to the 3-point line. Essentially, no matter where he is on the court, he is finding success offensively.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates

Those shooting numbers aren’t skewed because of low attempts, either. Gilgeous-Alexander currently leads the NBA in 2-pointers made and attempted and he is tied with Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets for the NBA lead in free throws made with 154.

While the Thunder are only 8-12 on the season, currently ranked 17th in offensive rating and 21st in defensive rating, they would be much worse without Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup. Offensively, there may not be a player in the NBA that is having as big of an impact as he is on Oklahoma City.

According to CleaningTheGlass.com, he is in the 90th percentile for efficiency differential when he is off the court. That jumps to the 95th percentile for points per 100 possessions. For every offensive stat, Gilgeous-Alexander is in at least the 74th percentile in on/off stats. 

LATEST NBA NEWS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates

Just how big of a difference is that? The Thunder are a 45-win team with him on the court. Without him, the Thunder would be a historically bad team as he adds 31 expected wins. That means if Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t play the entire season, this Thunder team would win 14 games based on the analytics.

While his impact isn’t felt anywhere as much defensively, some of that could be attributed to the heavy burden that he is carrying offensively as Gilgeous-Alexander is near the top of the NBA in usage rate. But, given his size and length, he is capable of being a multi-positional defender and this season, the Thunder are slightly worse defensively with him off the court.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s name has been floated about as the next young star that could be on the move in a trade, but it will certainly cost a ton to get him. Oklahoma City even considering moving on from him would be surprising given the developments he has made and how important of a player he is to their team finding any level of success.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates

But, if the losses continue to mount, he could ask for a trade. If that day comes, expect some epic bidding wars to ensue as Gilgeous-Alexander would command similar trade packages to what we saw Dejounte Murray and Donovan Mitchell go for this past offseason.

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