Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emerging as genuine threat in the West
Nikola Jokic is widely regarded as the best player in the Western Conference and beyond. During the summer, he was widely regarded as the best player in the world, and that narrative hasn't changed.
However, according to Stephen A. Smith, who was speaking on Monday's episode of ESPN's First Take, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be coming for Jokic's crown.
"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have you seen this brotha?" Smith said. "You got to watch this brother dance on people. The brother is 6-foot-6, 180lbs. Dances on you with his handle. Can shoot from anywhere. Hits free-throws. Pull-up jumpers. Three's. He's special. He's absolutely special...The brother has had over 30 (points) on 42 occasions. He is something special...Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the name that comes to my mind. The brother's special."
Gilgeous-Alexander is rapidly emerging as a potential MVP candidate . He was an All-NBA first-team selection last season and has been a top-five player in the league this season. And he will look to spearhead a deep playoff run for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the coming months.
However, he isn't ready to go head-to-head with Jokic for the crown of being the best player in the West.
Jokic is a two-time MVP and an NBA champion. He is a unique talent that can impact the game in multiple ways. Gilgeous-Alexander has the talent necessary to eventually surpass the Denver Nuggets star. It won't be this season, though.
Instead, Gilgeous-Alexander needs to continue developing his experiences within the league. He needs to taste the pressure of a win-or-go-home game late in the playoffs. He needs to prove he can lead his team to wins on the biggest stage.
Once he's cleared those hurdles, and continued to sustain his current production, Gilgeous-Alexander could potentially overtake Jokic. Until then, he needs to continue proving himself as arguably the best guard in the league. The rest will come in time.
More must-reads: