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Oklahoma City Thunder: 2019-20 NBA season preview

By Jacob Kniffen

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - SEPTEMBER 30: Steven Adams #12, Dennis Schroder #17, Chris Paul #3, Head Coach Billy Donovan, Danilo Gallinari #8, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder pose for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - SEPTEMBER 30: Steven Adams #12, Dennis Schroder #17, Chris Paul #3, Head Coach Billy Donovan, Danilo Gallinari #8, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder pose for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Storyline 2: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander make a second-year leap into being a franchise cornerstone?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have set themselves up for a successful rebuild by collecting 15 draft picks and four picks swaps over the next six seasons. In reality, the Thunder’s next superstar player is likely still in junior high or high school at this moment.

While draft picks are important — and a lot of draft picks are even better — they just represent possibility and hope. A draft pick is just a chance to get a possible franchise player.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a physical, real-life human being on the team now who also has that possibility and hope. He isn’t a draft pick that will become a player in four or five years. He’s playing now and has a chance to be special.

How special is still up in the air.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s rookie numbers don’t jump off the page. If you see his statistics you aren’t “wowed.” Rather, it’s his potential that excites both fans and anyone who has coached him in the past.

Per Game Table
Season G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% 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 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 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 9/14/2019.

At 21 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander is a 6’6″ point guard (although he played primarily at shooting guard in his rookie season and projects to occupy that same position in Oklahoma City to start the season) with a 6’11” wingspan. That height helps him see the entire floor on offense, allowing him to make passes some guards can’t while his length is an asset defensively.

Even though he has impressive measurables as a point guard, he plays at a slower pace. Gilgeous-Alexander’s playstyle is much different from Westbrook’s in many ways, which will be a change of pace for Thunder fans. He’s methodical, crafty, efficient and incredibly skilled. The team hopes that as he continues to hone those skills he can develop into a franchise-level player.

Can he become a multi-time NBA All-Star? That remains to be seen. One thing that many NBA stars do have in common is a fairly significant leap from their first to second year in the league. If Gilgeous-Alexander can make that leap this season it could jumpstart the Thunder’s rebuild.

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