Ought to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander begin in 2023 NBA All-Star Recreation? Thunder guard continues to construct sturdy case
Charles Barkley made fairly the declare in late November.
“If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just isn’t beginning within the All-Star Recreation, we’re not going to let the general public vote once more,” the Hall of Famer said on Inside the NBA. “He needs to be beginning on the two spot within the Western Convention. Simply.”
Gilgeous-Alexander may not have entered the 2022-23 season as a family identify, however the Thunder guard has shortly confirmed himself to be one of many NBA’s rising stars. We did not even have him as a prime 30 participant within the league getting into the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Eight months later, we’ve got him at No. 15.
Does that make Gilgeous-Alexander a lock to be an All-Star this season? Does he have a case to begin?
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is placing up All-Star numbers
Let’s begin with some good old school stats.
On the season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.5 factors, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per recreation. Not solely are these profession highs nearly throughout the board — he averaged a shade extra assists and rebounds final season — however the one different gamers presently averaging round 30-5-5 are bonafide stars.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been extremely environment friendly as nicely. By 31 video games, he is capturing 50.5 p.c from the sphere, 35.2 p.c from the 3-point line and 92.5 p.c from the free-throw line.
There aren’t many spots on the court docket he isn’t snug capturing from.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers are much more spectacular contemplating his surrounding expertise. The Thunder haven’t got many creators on their roster and are gentle on capturing, and but he constantly cooks defenders one-on-one, drives greater than anybody else within the league and lives within the paint.
The icing on the cake? The rebuilding Thunder are literally aggressive with him on the court docket. In accordance with NBA.com, they’re outscoring opponents by 0.7 factors per 100 possessions with Gilgeous-Alexander within the lineup. With him on the bench, they’re being outscored by 4.8 factors per 100 possessions.
For context, that is the distinction between Oklahoma Metropolis rating 18th and 27 in web ranking.
MORE: Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s most underrated participant
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had All-Star moments
Serving to Gilgeous-Alexander’s All-Star case is that he is already had some signature moments.
In a win over the Wizards on Nov. 16, he went off for 42 factors and drained the game-winning 3-pointer.
On Dec. 19, he stole the present on an evening that noticed Damian Lillard make historical past by scoring 35 factors and nailing one more game-winner.
On Dec. 23, he scored a career-high 44 factors whereas grabbing 10 rebounds and 6 assists, albeit in a loss.
44 PTS (career-high)
10 REB
6 ASTSGA confirmed out for OKC tonight. pic.twitter.com/KKE9dnQpkr
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2022
Solely DeMar DeRozan has scored extra factors within the clutch than Gilgeous-Alexander up to now this season and solely six gamers have extra 40-point video games. He is been big-time.
Ought to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander begin within the 2023 All-Star Recreation?
Ah sure, the million-dollar query.
Good as Gilgeous-Alexander has been, beginning within the All-Star Recreation isn’t any simple feat. He is listed as a guard on the voting poll, so he is competing for considered one of solely two obtainable spots within the Western Convention.
A kind of will nearly actually go to Luka Doncic, who’s having a historic season and followers love. Stephen Curry is the front-runner for the opposite spot, however the shoulder harm that might sideline him for as much as a month opens the door for another person to begin, particularly if it takes him a while to seek out his rhythm when he returns.
Even then, Gilgeous-Alexander faces some actual competitors. Ja Morant and Damian Lillard are sturdy choices. Devin Booker is as nicely, although he will be sidelined for some time himself with a groin harm.
If you happen to had been questioning how the 5 of them evaluate statistically:
| Participant | Video games | PPG | APG | RPG | TS% |
| Luka Doncic | 32 | 33.6 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 61.7 |
| Stephen Curry | 26 | 30.0 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 66.8 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 31 | 31.5 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 62.3 |
| Ja Morant | 28 | 27.1 | 7.8 | 6.3 | 54.7 |
| Damian Lillard | 22 | 27.5 | 7.2 | 3.8 | 62.4 |
| Devin Booker | 29 | 27.1 | 5.6 | 4.6 | 58.5 |
No matter if he will get the votes to begin or not, it is arduous to think about Gilgeous-Alexander not being named an All-Star if he continues to play on the stage he has. He is been within the dialog earlier than, however he is entered a distinct stratosphere this season.
