Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on a tear to start the 2025-26 NBA season. The reigning league MVP has led the Thunder to a 23-1 record, taking over the entire association. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists, his fourth-straight season of averaging at least 30 points.
SGA and the Thunder have anchored the fifth-best offense and the league’s best defense. Overall, the group has the highest advanced net rating in the NBA. They have trampled on their competition, proving that they were the rightful winners of the NBA championship.
On Wednesday’s episode of “NBA on Prime,” former MVP Steve Nash had high praise for his fellow Canadian star. Nash went on to praise the young guard for his leadership and compared him to Michael Jordan.
“Offensively, this guy is getting into the heirs statistically of people like Micheal Jordan,” Nash said.
“I know that is sacrilegious to say, but look at some of these numbers. Of all-time 30-point per game scorers, he has the highest true shooting percentage, he is second in 3-point field goal percentage. 2-pointers, sixth… All the while, the fewest turnovers of anyone who’s ever scored 30 points in a season.
"Offensively this guy is entering the heir of Michael Jordan statistically, look at these numbers"
– Steve Nash on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
(h/t @NBA__Courtside)pic.twitter.com/5nB64TUz2a
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 11, 2025
“That is excellence, and that is unbelievable to watch. I do not get bored of watching this guy.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are a tough team to beat. Their defense hounds opposing teams, making it difficult to score. With the way they’ve been playing as of late, OKC has a chance to repeat and win its second-straight NBA title.
Austin Rivers says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be the biggest star in the NBA if he were American
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander belongs in the talented pool of players born outside of the United States. Together with Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, they’ve put a spotlight on international players in the NBA. However, because he’s in a small-market team, SGA doesn’t get plenty of exposure.
Austin Rivers, a former NBA player, noted that being born outside of the United States hasn’t helped his talent receive more notice. In the latest episode of “Off Guard,” Rivers said that if SGA were American, things would be different.
“He doesn’t just get on his IG live and start talking to people. Like he doesn’t tweet like Kevin Durant, you know, like if he were more active on social media, born in America, and played in a hot market, he’d be the biggest star in basketball by a landslide because he has everything,” Rivers said.
SGA has been named an All-Star, an All-NBA, a champion and an MVP. However, the focus is still away from him.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
