Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addresses Michael Jordan comparisons

The Michael Jordan standard

When Jordan's name comes up, the debate pretty much ends before it starts. Six rings. Six Finals MVPs. Two runs of three straight NBA championships. That alone locks him into any conversation about the greatest player ever.

But it was not just the hardware. Jordan changed the way the NBA was seen around the world. His finishes at the rim and his refusal to lose turned regular-season matchups into appointment viewing.

Away from the court, his shoe line became something bigger than footwear. It turned into a cultural movement that still drives sneaker sales and hype today.

That said, what Gilgeous-Alexander is doing deserves recognition on its own terms. He's not flashy or loud, but he shows up and produces every single night.

For four straight years, he's been one of the most reliable scorers in the league, dropping 30 points with efficiency that most players can't touch.

Right now, the reigning MVP is closing in on Wilt Chamberlain's record of 126 straight games with at least 20 points. It's the kind of streak that does not always grab headlines. SGA isn't going for 60-point performances, but he's hitting 30 on a nightly basis like clockwork. 

Teams still haven't found a way to slow him down, so the comparisons to the game's greats likely won't slow down, either.