'He’s Heading Way Past Me': Steve Nash Gives Massive Praise to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league-best 68–14 record, backed by a record-setting +12.9 point differential. He topped the NBA in scoring 32.7 points per game on 51.9% shooting, averaging 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks.

The statistical profile put him in rare company—only Michael Jordan had previously matched or exceeded 30 points per game on 50% shooting with at least five rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals, and one block.

“I think there’s a reluctance, out of respect and admiration, to say names like Jordan and Kobe or whoever, but he does the same thing they do,” Nash said. “If you look at the numbers and you break it down, there’s a lot of things he does that are greater than everyone that’s even close to those type of players. So he’s ascending towards that category.”

Playoff Poise and Lasting Legacy

The Thunder’s dominance has continued in the postseason, where Oklahoma City holds a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. In Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 38 points, adding another chapter to a campaign that has made believers of former MVPs and peers alike.

“If you win the championship this year, that also helps the argument,” Nash said. “But I’m not so much into arguments. I’m just into quality of play and quality of player, human being, leader, winner, and he’s ascending at a historic rate here. So I mean, there’s no limit, really. I just love him to death, and just to see him recognized is phenomenal.”

While Nash typically shies away from comparisons and rankings, he did not hesitate to emphasize Gilgeous-Alexander’s unique combination of skill, leadership, and character. For a player who led Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and helped secure an Olympic berth for Paris 2024, the legacy is already taking shape on an international scale as well.

“He’s also inspiring a new generation, or many generations,” Nash said. “It’s very powerful to have a player and a figure like that.”

Nash closed his reflections with a message of encouragement. “Stick to it,” he said. “Continue doing what you’re doing, because it’s working—and it’s working in a historic way.”

Two decades after Nash first elevated Canada onto the NBA’s biggest stage, Gilgeous-Alexander has taken the baton and sprinted forward—toward history, toward championships, and, in Nash’s view, toward the rarest air the sport has ever known.