Shai Goregous Alexander

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Beyond laughable.
The only three players that I've seen play in my lifetime who belong in the same sentence as Michael Jordan are Larry Bird, Steph Curry, and LeBron James.

I say Steph belongs because he's the greatest shooter I've ever seen with rings to back it up.
Do I need to explain why Bird and James might belong in the same sentence as Jordan?

For me in my lifetime, Kobe was the closest to Jordan in terms of mindset and wanting the pressure of taking the big shots.

I was born in 1976 and did not see Bird in his prime really but seen enough highlights to know how great he was.

As far as Curry and Leturd, great players but they do not even belong in the same sentence as Jordan...

[Git Lo]

NBA moves too fast for people. SGA isn't much different from his rookie years on the clippers and OKC only had like 2 down years (post kd, russ) since they traded for him. As you probably know the gm cleaned house with trades and tanking and now they are right back to the top. SGA is also a victim of best player on best team = mvp which under appreciates how good he really is.

[stevenash]

Cue Kobe fans...

You can make a case for Kobe, good eye, Mr. Opti

[Optional]

Beyond laughable.
The only three players that I've seen play in my lifetime who belong in the same sentence as Michael Jordan are Larry Bird, Steph Curry, and LeBron James.

I say Steph belongs because he's the greatest shooter I've ever seen with rings to back it up.
Do I need to explain why Bird and James might belong in the same sentence as Jordan?

Cue Kobe fans...

[stevenash]

It's laughable that players continue to get compared to Jordan.

Beyond laughable.
The only three players that I've seen play in my lifetime who belong in the same sentence as Michael Jordan are Larry Bird, Steph Curry, and LeBron James.

I say Steph belongs because he's the greatest shooter I've ever seen with rings to back it up.
Do I need to explain why Bird and James might belong in the same sentence as Jordan?

[k13]

I'll give one opinion on the modern NBA. The 3-pointer has changed the game SO MUCH. Call it the Curry factor, if you will.

The game is now so much about moving the ball to find the open 3. These are pros, so the open 3-pointer is not a difficult shot for them.

Compare that to the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers. Blazers were one of the great ball-movement teams. This was two years before the NBA implemented the three-point line in 1979. That was real basketball IMHO. You move the ball to find the optimal shot. And the Blazers did it well.

Not a difficult shot for them?
Why do they miss 70% of the time.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Gilgeous (has to copy-paste it) - how do you pronounce it?

Gil-Gehus?
Gil-Jeus?
Gil-Gos?
Gil-Goas?

Honestly I have no clue lol.

If he wins them a title, maybe it's Gil-JESUS.

[arie1985]

What part of his name is hard to pronounce? Pronounce it the way you see it. In fact, gorgeous is harder to pronounce than his name.

Gilgeous (has to copy-paste it) - how do you pronounce it?

Gil-Gehus?
Gil-Jeus?
Gil-Gos?
Gil-Goas?

Honestly I have no clue lol.

[pavyracer]

As someone who grew up speaking other languages at home - I sometimes call him Shai Gulgulgul Alexander, not even sure how to pronounce / spell his G name ....

Anyway what's so special about this guy? He ain't Michael Jordan, yet he seems to be an NBA "star" - why?

For me he's another player like many others, even less than Stephen Curry.

The level of the NBA is so bad this year. NBA nowadays is truly used solely for gambling, that's disgusting.

What part of his name is hard to pronounce? Pronounce it the way you see it. In fact, gorgeous is harder to pronounce than his name.

[Eddy Munny]

I'll give one opinion on the modern NBA. The 3-pointer has changed the game SO MUCH. Call it the Curry factor, if you will.

Hackneyed take. It's true, but it's only been stated a bazillion times. Either eliminate the shot or suck it up. What do you want them to do, settle for midrange shots when they can dribble back a couple steps and hit a shot worth 50% more?

[arie1985]

And wtf does you speaking other languages at home mean? Maybe you are watching Nigerian Premier League NPL

It means I can't spell or pronounce his middle name or what's not, I'd just say Shai Goal-Goal Alexander ... I can't pronounce it, that's what it means.

It's like Arnold Sch.... I can't spell his last name, would never be able to spell it... and I'm sure I won't be able to pronounce it properly like the way it really should be pronounced ....

That's what it means.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Nate Silver wrote an article comparing SGA to other elite modern NBA guards. The conclusion was SGA was less athletic than Jordan, but more efficient. He's also only 26, so there's still room to improve. Article here: https://www.natesilver.net/p/have-we...michael-jordan

IAN, a few observations for you:
1) I like how SGA has stayed humble. The OKC core is very young. Unless they're lying, they are pulling for each other and playing as a team.
2) Into the Finals this year. If they win the title, look out. I could see them rattling off multiple titles.
3) Young players normally improve year-over-year into their athletic peak. That's a scary proposition if OKC is still on the rise.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

It's laughable that players continue to get compared to Jordan.

[Ian]

As someone who grew up speaking other languages at home - I sometimes call him Shai Gulgulgul Alexander, not even sure how to pronounce / spell his G name ....

Anyway what's so special about this guy? He ain't Michael Jordan, yet he seems to be an NBA "star" - why?

For me he's another player like many others, even less than Stephen Curry.

The level of the NBA is so bad this year. NBA nowadays is truly used solely for gambling, that's disgusting.

Nate Silver wrote an article comparing SGA to other elite modern NBA guards. The conclusion was SGA was less athletic than Jordan, but more efficient. He's also only 26, so there's still room to improve. Article here: https://www.natesilver.net/p/have-we...michael-jordan

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Digest this tidbit:
The three-point field goal was slow to be adopted by teams in the NBA. In the 1980 NBA Finals, Julius Erving made the only three of the series (and first in Finals history) in Game 3, and in Game 4, neither team attempted a single shot beyond the arc.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I'll give one opinion on the modern NBA. The 3-pointer has changed the game SO MUCH. Call it the Curry factor, if you will.

The game is now so much about moving the ball to find the open 3. These are pros, so the open 3-pointer is not a difficult shot for them.

Compare that to the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers. Blazers were one of the great ball-movement teams. This was two years before the NBA implemented the three-point line in 1979. That was real basketball IMHO. You move the ball to find the optimal shot. And the Blazers did it well.

[cl_darius]

As someone who grew up speaking other languages at home - I sometimes call him Shai Gulgulgul Alexander, not even sure how to pronounce / spell his G name ....

Anyway what's so special about this guy? He ain't Michael Jordan, yet he seems to be an NBA "star" - why?

For me he's another player like many others, even less than Stephen Curry.

The level of the NBA is so bad this year. NBA nowadays is truly used solely for gambling, that's disgusting.

Hard to argue with that take. The league has definitely changed. That said, Shai has been putting up solid numbers and carrying OKC quietly for a while now. Not flashy like MJ but he has game if you actually watch him play.

[2Sweeet]

As someone who grew up speaking other languages at home - I sometimes call him Shai Gulgulgul Alexander, not even sure how to pronounce / spell his G name ....

Anyway what's so special about this guy? He ain't Michael Jordan, yet he seems to be an NBA "star" - why?

For me he's another player like many others, even less than Stephen Curry.

The level of the NBA is so bad this year. NBA nowadays is truly used solely for gambling, that's disgusting.

The level of the NBA is so bad you say? And wtf does you speaking other languages at home mean? Maybe you are watching Nigerian Premier League NPL, but you sound dumb here even if u spoke 30 different languages. I hate the NBA and think these guys are pampered but you can take a guy now who is the 7th best player on his team and he would of dominated in the 90's and Early 2000's and he can't even get on the court in 2025. The players today can do it all.. U can't just take there dribble or jump shot away and say thats it . Jordan will always be the best in my book but he is Lucky he came up when he did. He played a ton of stiffs compared to todays game. These kids today r being prepared for this shit since they been 10 yrs old. LOL Curry?? Call me when he plays defense and doesn't need 2 guys to help him win. Curry is the best shooter that ever lived and that's why every game you watch now has over 50 3's taken. The athletes today are on a whole different level. They just don't give a fcck cuz they don't have to they make 260 million and never won shit.

[Eddy Munny]

Only a gay would call him Shai Gorgeous Alexander.

That means you're a gay.

You participate in gay activities.

Gay.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

*Arie, SGA is good. Have to respect his talent. Long...and he can get to his shot.

When we bet the games, we bet on teams. In that regard, I view OKC as an excellent TEAM.

I've rarely seen a team w/ these qualities:
*Core of team is young. Improving into their prime. Only a few veterans on the roster.
*Focus on defense. It's a great defensive team. Defensive skill all over the court.
*Holmgren missed time this year. He has yet to scratch the surface. As a shooter, his talent makes him a cheat-code.

People have yet to realize how good OKC is. But they're about to learn. Add in great team chemistry:
*They will be tough to beat. And I'm not talking just this year. Unless their roster breaks up, they will be hard to beat.

[arie1985]

*Gorgeous

[arie1985]

As someone who grew up speaking other languages at home - I sometimes call him Shai Gulgulgul Alexander, not even sure how to pronounce / spell his G name ....

Anyway what's so special about this guy? He ain't Michael Jordan, yet he seems to be an NBA "star" - why?

For me he's another player like many others, even less than Stephen Curry.

The level of the NBA is so bad this year. NBA nowadays is truly used solely for gambling, that's disgusting.