Who is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Five things to know about OKC Thunder star
The OKC Thunder is enjoying a breakout season.
OKC (57-25) is the No. 1 seed in the West. It'll face the No. 8-seeded New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The Thunder is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a 25-year-old guard who has emerged as an MVP candidate with averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Here are five things to know about Gilgeous-Alexander:
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander climbed the ranks at Kentucky
Gilgeous-Alexander arrived at Kentucky in 2017 as a four-star freshman.
The 6-foot-6 guard was the second-lowest-ranked player in the Wildcats' eight-man recruiting class of 2017. The group included six five-star prospects and five McDonald's All-Americans.
But Gilgeous-Alexander earned the starting point guard spot by the time Kentucky's 2017-18 season began, and he quickly became a leader. He finished the campaign with averages of 14.4 points and 5.1 assists, which earned him an All-SEC second team selection.
Kentucky reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament that season. It ultimately suffered a 61-58 loss to Kansas State.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander began his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers
Gilgeous-Alexander declared for the 2018 NBA Draft following his lone season at Kentucky.
He got selected by No. 11 overall by the Charlotte Hornets, who traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers that same day. Charlotte sent Gilgeous-Alexander to the Clippers in exchange for the No. 12 overall pick (which ended up being Miles Bridges) and two second-round picks.
Gilgeous-Alexander played all 82 games during his rookie season, and he made 73 starts. He averaged 10.8 points and 3.3 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander received an All-Rookie second team selection.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got traded to the OKC Thunder in 2019
Gilgeous-Alexander was part of a blockbuster trade on July 10, 2019.
Los Angeles sent Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to OKC in exchange for Paul George.
The massive deal marked the start of a rebuild for the Thunder, and Gilgeous-Alexander quickly emerged as the face of the franchise. He averaged 19 points and 3.3 assists during his first season with OKC.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rose to stardom during 2022-23 season
Gilgeous-Alexander took his game to new heights last season.
The then-fifth-year guard averaged 31.4 points and 5.5 assists. He earned his first All-Star selection, and he also made the All-NBA first team.
OKC benefited from Gilgeous-Alexander's strong play. The Thunder went 40-42, which marked a 16-win improvement from the previous season.
OKC also reached the play-in tournament. It ultimately suffered a 120-95 road loss to Minnesota in the final round.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is under contract through the 2026-27 season
OKC signed Gilgeous-Alexander to a five-year, $172 million maximum rookie contract extension on Aug. 2, 2021.
Gilgeous-Alexander is under contract through the 2026-27 season. He'll be 28 years old by that time.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Five things to know about Thunder star
