Shaq says he’d take Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Luka Doncic 👀 “I’m gonna have to take [SGA]. Luka is a fabulous player but this kid? He plays the right way, gets his teammates involved… I’m taking him right now… He’s a hell of a player right now.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander praised by Shaquille O'Neal: "Luka Doncic is fabulous, but I'll take Shai".
NBAThursday, 18 January 2024 at 02:46
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the best stories of the season. The young squad has taken the league by surprise, and caught the attention of the legendary Shaquille O'Neal who poetically praised OKC's star player making a surprising statement.
"I'm going to go with [Gilgeous-Alexander]," O'Neal said when asked his choice between Gilgeous-Alexander and Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.
"Luka is a fabulous player, but this kid? Listen, he plays the right way, he gets his teammates involved? I'm picking him right now," continued the four-time champion.
"He's definitely become one of my favorite players to watch because I like stories like that: players who come out of nowhere and then are a force to be reckoned with. He's an incredible player right now."
Gilgeous-Alexander's rise to stardom wasn't exactly expected. A draft teammate of Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander was selected eight picks later, acquired by the LA Clippers in a draft day deal and then traded to Oklahoma City just a year later.
After averaging 10.8 points per game as a starter his freshman year, Gilgeous-Alexander's point production has increased year after year. He is now averaging more than 30 points per game in back-to-back seasons, something his biggest fans might not have predicted earlier in his career.
As for O'Neal's statement, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic have established themselves as the best point guards in the Western Conference for two consecutive years. It is, of course, a matter of preference, but they are not far behind each other.
Last season, both Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander represented the Western Conference in the 2023 All-Star Game and later shared honors on the NBA All-Best Team. This season, both have a good chance to repeat those accomplishments.
Gilgeous-Alexander is less than a year older than Doncic, who will turn 25 at the end of February. They represent the next generation of players, in an MVP race that also features past winners such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.
Where Gilgeous-Alexander might have the edge this season is tied to team success, as the Thunder are in contention for the top spot in the West, while the Mavericks are currently somewhat behind in the middle of the standings. Doncic has the edge in individual numbers, which is also an valuable argument.
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