The inaugural NBA Cup is headed into its quarterfinals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s reigning Finals MVP, has set out to build off his incredible breakthrough campaign a season ago. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s success increasingly hinges on his contributions. The hooping community will be watching in anticipation to see if anyone is up to the task of dethroning their titans.
To be clear – it’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t deserve the praise, he’s been spectacular this season. Yet despite only playing an average of 33.0 minutes per game, he still scored an impressive 34.5 points on average. His shooting efficiency was off the charts, with shooting splits of .589 from the field, .563 from deep, and .860 from the line. On top of displaying his scoring prowess, he provided notable 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. It’s this versatility that has gotten him to being one of the most complete players in the league today.
Most recently, he’s fought valiantly in hard-fought losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns. In those clutch moments, he stepped up to the plate and produced every time his team needed him to. This kind of pressure is a rarity for Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s been nothing short of phenomenal in net all month long.
The Showdown for MVP
Because the discussion about the MVP candidacy biz this season has mostly focused on Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. Both athletes have notched some of the most hard-won and impressive accolades in sports over their storied careers. This complicates the decision for analysts and fans. Doncic worked well against the Clippers, reminding everyone that he can dominate games by scoring at will. On the other hand, given Gilgeous-Alexander’s extreme efficiency and high productivity, he is a terrific candidate.
Kevin Pelton, an ESPN analyst, believes that Gilgeous-Alexander deserves the MVP title this year due to his consistent excellence on the court. Pelton further points out that per-possession rating of Gilgeous-Alexander should make you blush. He only trails Doncic by a hair, despite having played 26 less minutes. This eye-popping stat goes on to illustrate how involved he is in changing the game while he’s on the court.
Indeed, MacMahon thinks Oklahoma City ends up taking the Cup title. It leaves them room to do this despite relying on their star player to provide next to nothing in pivotal elimination games. Beyond that proclamation, though, is an acknowledgment of the Thunder’s formidable depth and clutch gene.
The Rising Stars
The NBA Cup not only features established stars like Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic but showcases rising talents such as Devin Booker and Austin Reaves. As usual, Booker demonstrates his high-level scoring repertoire. In the interim, Reaves has settled into a groove, racking up a combined 92 points in consecutive games earlier this season. In different ways, these performances provide richness to the fabric of their respective teams and turn them into individuals to keep an eye on as the tournament continues.
Besides these up-and-comers, Jalen Williams is looking to get all the way back on track. His contributions will be huge for the Thunder as they stare down the barrel of a potential gauntlet of series against the best teams in the West. Victor Wembanyama could return from a calf strain in time for the San Antonio Spurs’ pivotal visit to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. This great news has added a lot more excitement to the upcoming games!
Looking Ahead
As for LeBron, he continues to play himself back into shape. Fans anxiously await to see what he’ll do to boost his team’s performance in the quarter-finals. The same goes for James’ impact, as he is not just one of the league’s biggest stars but easily one of its most acclaimed too. As Oklahoma City prepares for their next challenge, the question remains: can they maintain their momentum and clinch another title with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge?
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