Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an outstanding season in 2022/23, and looks destined for his first All-Star and All-NBA appearances. He’s third in the league in scoring at 31.1 PPG, and is also averaging 4.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.1 BPG on .500/.324/.926 shooting through 23 games (35.7 MPG).
In a lengthy profile on Gilgeous-Alexander’s emergence as a star, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman (subscriber link) writes that, despite external speculation that the 24-year-old might grow impatient with the Thunder’s rebuild and eventually seek a trade, there’s no sense of that happening within the organization. Gilgeous-Alexander says he has a lot of faith in GM Sam Presti.
“It’s always easy to trust someone when they haven’t given you a reason not to trust them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s always easier to trust someone when they tell you something and it happens. And that’s been my relationship with Sam so far.
“Everything he’s told me has happened, and he’s never lied to me … It’s easy to work — well, it’s crazy that basketball is work — but it’s easier to play basketball and put your all into every day and believe in the future when it’s a guy like that running the show.”
Here’s more from the West:
- Prior to the Timberwolves‘ matchup with the Jazz on Friday, which the Wolves won 118-108 to move to 13-12, Michael Rand of The Star Tribune wrote an article about whether Minnesota would still make the Rudy Gobert deal right now, with the knowledge that the start to the season would be uneven. He believes the answer is “probably,” because while there have definitely been bumps along the way, Gobert has played better of late and he’s starting to develop some chemistry with teammates.
- Dyson Daniels, the No. 8 overall pick in June’s draft, has emerged as an immediate contributor to the West’s No. 1 seed due to his strong defense, writes William Guillory of The Athletic. The 19-year-old Pelicans guard says he welcomes the challenge of guarding top players. “I like when people go at me. I love to accept that challenge,” Daniels said. “I want to show them that I’m here for a reason and I can defend. … Guys always want to go at the rookie, and I’m fine with that. It only makes me better.”
- Rockets guard Jalen Green, last year’s No. 2 overall pick, has had a bit of an up-and-down second season thus far, which is to be expected for a young player on a rebuilding club. According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Green focuses on big-picture growth and has proven to be a sponge when it comes to soaking up information and watching film.
Still think Minnys transcendence lies within Anthony Edwards
30% into the season 2 games back of 4th isn’t a bad scenario considering all the moving parts
Have faith Anthony takes the leap here soon. This team could be deadly playoffs when rotations shorten up
Agreed on Edwards. He has to be the face of the team. We already saw how far KAT could take them as their franchise leader and it was basically nowhere. Edwards is their franchise, and whether he takes his game to the next level or not will determine if MIN ever takes it to the next level.
100% — going all in on Gobert only made sense if you believed Edwards had a Ja like leap in him.
But it also only made sense if you believed Gobert had a few more years of elite defense in him. His DBPM #s are a little alarming for a guy who just turned 30 (down to -.4 from +2.8 two years ago), but it’s still early.
Right now Ant reminds me of a (very) rich man’s RJ Barrett, a guy who shows flashes of brilliance, puts up great counting stats but whose efficiency stats consistently fall way below what you’d expect.
Combine those two and I’d be sweating a tad if I was a Minnesota fan.
Just cause it’s the newest post.
How about the lakers game today against my Sixers hahaha
4th quarter we were up 119-111 with 35 seconds left. DAnthony Melton turns the ball over twice, and Tobias Harris once and it finished 120 each.
Then into overtime I’ll give you a run down of the lakers shots
Bron misses, Russ misses the next 3 consecutive shots for them, AD misses, Bron misses again. Austin Reaves misses, Russ misses twice then Pat Beverly makes their 1 and only shot of OT with 35 seconds left in the game.
Sixers should’ve closed them out in the 4th them Lakers just choked in overtime.
Russ went 0-5 in overtime and finished the game 4-14. At 4-9 heading into OT he wasn’t going to bad then he just stunk it up. Meanwhile AD went 9-13 and should’ve had more shots.
All this talk in the media about the lakers defence being the real deal, Joel Embiid just dropped 38 on you going 14-19 from the floor. DAnthony Melton who’s turnovers almost lost us the game went 8-12 from 3 for 33 points.
Idk what it is poor coaching, Russ, the personalities, whatever but it’s just not clicking for the lakers. Not going to put all the blame on just 1 thing but Russ should’ve kept shooting it, AD should’ve got more shots and Melton should not be dropping 33 on you.
But as a Sixers fan I’ll gladly take it
Today others game I thought was worth talking about the suns lost to the pelicans.
They got truely exposed for not having a PF with Johnson out and Crowder away from the team.
Torrey Craig started at the 4 and did alright 30 minutes 14 points 5/9 shooting 5 rebound and 3 assists. But at the other end Zion had 35 points shooting 13/17 to go with 7 boards and 4 assists. Larry Nance also had 17 points, shooting 7/10 with 9 rebounds and 5 assists although some of those minutes would’ve been at centre.
Booker shot terribly 5/17 and Bridges was equally poor 4/12. This was a pelicans team without Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones aswell.
Think the suns may need to act a little quicker in moving Jae or atleast deciding what to do. This game follows heavy losses to the Celtics and Mavs. Considering they play the pelicans twice again in their next 5 games and then have AD and the lakers on the 6th game id be getting a little worried.
I don’t think it’s only the PF spot either I think the depth is a lot weaker and they should act sooner rather than later.
They want to much for what they have. Like the Warriors they are trying to change the engine while flying the plane.
They want a younger right now players for an established role player. No draft picks exchange style.
Crowder is not worth that much. His name only comes up because the writers have nothing to talk about. Teams are using him as an excuse not to do a trade as much as the media is why one should do so.
His only true fit is the Grizzles.
I’m actually shocked Phoenix has done as well as they have considering they’ve been missing Paul and Crowder—two starters—and given the whole Ayton business.
I think the whole Crowder situation is weird. But they need to make sure they get good value for him bc as you said their depth is shaky.
Love everything about SGA. Just needs to stay healthy
The SGA thing is low key one of the biggest developments in the league. I think most of us liked him but not sure anyone was predicting him to look like a top 10 player.
If this production is real then that’s a HUGE game changer. OKC is suddenly sitting on a legitimate franchise player and a heaping mound of future picks. They could potentially build a contending roster a lot sooner than previously thought.