Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 predictions for 2019-20 season
1. SGA will have a breakout second year
While most analysts will point to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s massive collection of draft picks as the team’s building blocks for the future, the one tangible things fans can rally behind is their new young point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
His coaches and NBA media have raved about the 21-year-old guard and his first season in the NBA.
In his rookie season, on an LA Clippers team loaded with vets, Gilgeous-Alexander earned a starting spot less than a month into the year and proved to be a vital piece for the team’s playoff run.
His combination of size (6’6″ as a point guard), length (6’9″ wingspan), fluidity, patience, defensive upside and ability to finish around the basket made him a standout of his draft class and probably caused multiple teams to regret not selecting him before the Clippers snatched him up with the 14th pick.
| Season | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 82 | 73 | 26.5 | 4.2 | 8.7 | .476 | 0.6 | 1.7 | .367 | 3.5 | 7.0 | .503 | .512 | 1.9 | 2.4 | .800 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 10.8 |
| Career | 82 | 73 | 26.5 | 4.2 | 8.7 | .476 | 0.6 | 1.7 | .367 | 3.5 | 7.0 | .503 | .512 | 1.9 | 2.4 | .800 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 10.8 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/9/2019.
His statistics improved as the season progressed and he became more comfortable with the NBA game.
Most players see a jump in their production from year one to year two.
This should be the case for Gilgeous-Alexander as well. It may also help him that instead of being expected to be the leader of a new look Thunder team, he will have a veteran guard in Chris Paul next to him to play off of and learn from.
His physical tools, basketball IQ, hard work ethic and previous production in his first season all set Gilgeous-Alexander up for high expectations moving forward. If he progresses like many think he can — and will — there may be multiple All-Star appearances for the young guard in the future.
Next. Each team's best NBA Jam duo of all-time. dark
For the Thunder, they hope those come sooner rather than later.