It feels like every day, someone new is giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander his flowers. Both Luka Doncic and the Team Serbia head coach alluded to the Thunder star as one of the best players in the world, and now, a hometown legend is respecting SGA's overall game.
Steve Nash is widely viewed as the greatest Canadian basetball player of all time, and Gilgeous-Alexander is doing his best to inch closer to his status. Nash has made it very clear he's a fan of SGA's game, tweeting back in March that he believes he can become the greatest Canadian hoops player ever.
After Gilgeous-Alexander's FIBA performance, the former Phoenix Suns star vocalized his praise once again.
“I mean, he’s got it, right," Nash said. "He has the game, the feel, the understanding of his responsibility in the moment. It’s just a beautiful thing when you have a player like that in your arsenal.”
Despite Canada's loss to Serbia in the semifinals, his massive performances set his team up for a spot in the Olympics next summer and a string of success unfamiliar to Team Canada basketball. With an infusion of NBA talent on the roster next summer, likely meaning Andrew Wiggins and Jamal Murray, Canada will be a trendy pick.
“He’s one of my favorite players and keeps getting better,” Nash continued. “It’s going to be fun to watch him play the rest of his career and continue to play in a Canada jersey as long as possible.”
After a career-best season in the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander's next step could be towards the MVP trophy, an award Nash won in both 2005 and 2006. SGA was an All-Star and a member of the All-NBA First Team a season ago, leading the Thunder back to the postseason.
With Oklahoma City looking to take the next step and Canada basketball on the rise, he has a chance to do something special next season. Leading his team to a playoff spot and paving the way for a Team Canada Olympic run could bring him one step closer to Nash.
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