Charles Barkley Believes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Too Nice

The conversation surrounding Gilgeous-Alexander has been bizarre for the past year. He is a fantastic player who deserves his accolades, as he worked hard to earn them. However, there have been many talking points that have veered away from his greatness.

Many have spoken about his affinity for drawing fouls, despite his free-throw rate being lower than Kobe Bryant's and Dwyane Wade's in their primes. There is also the notion that he is not superstar material, which is what Barkley is pointing out about his lack of killer mentality.

Barkley Thinks Gilgeous-Alexander Lacks The Killer Mindset

On an episode of Bill Simmons' podcast, Barkley was the guest. They discussed many topics, including the killer mindset that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had during their NBA careers. Those mega stars were unique because they had a relentless hunger for getting victories

That resonated with people around the world, as seen with how athletes approach practice and games. Even the term "Mamba Mentality" is shorthand for having an elite mindset and approach to the game.

During that discussion, Barkley spoke about LeBron James lacking that mentality, and he also brought up Gilgeous-Alexander. He thinks both of these players are "too nice" when compared to greats like Jordan and Bryant.

"I'll tell you the difference between the three. Michael and Kobe were dangerous. They will kill your a**. LeBron is a nice guy, and that's not a knock. He's still great, great, great, but he's a nice guy. Michael and Kobe weren't nice guys. They're different," Barkley said on Simmons' podcast.

"The one thing about OKC, even though I think Shai is a great, great player. To me, he's more like LeBron. He's a really nice guy. He's not out there trying to kill you."

Gilgeous-Alexander Will Keep Playing His Game

Amidst all the criticism, Gilgeous-Alexander will continue to be one of the NBA's best players. He will let the game do the talking, and success will make his message even clearer. That is what he did with the 2024-25 season, as he won the MVP, Finals MVP, and the championship.

It will be tough to take him away from the top spot, as the NBA is still catching up to him. Nikola Jokic is probably the only player who can hold a candle to Gilgeous-Alexander, which should be telling for such a bright player.

The future is bright for the NBA, especially with Gilgeous-Alexander firmly in his prime. He is the superstar who can continue being the long-term face of the Thunder that's competing for titles.