Shai Gilgeous Alexander is a star. His charisma, style, and greatness on the court have made him an absolute superstar. He has the intangible things, the things you cannot quantify, that make someone larger than life. Learn about the life and career of Shai below.
Canadian Born
Shai Gilgeous Alexander was born in 1998. He is from Canada. His parents were both talented athletes. His mother competed at the Olympics as a track star. Shai’s father coached him in basketball when he was young. A cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, of Shai also plays in the NBA. Athleticism is in his DNA.
Wildcat
In college, Shai would play a single season for the University of Kentucky. Kentucky is one of the most legendary college basketball institutions ever. Playing for the school put a lot of eyes on Shai. He did not disappoint with strong numbers in his Freshman season.
NBA
Shai was taken with the 11 Pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He would then be traded on the same day to the Los Angeles Clippers. His tenure in LA would only last a single season, before he would be traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After playing for a short time in college, spending just a cup of coffee with Charlotte, and a year in sunny LA, he would find seemingly a forever home in OKC.
MVP Caliber
The Thunder are one of the top teams in the league, while simultaneously being one of its youngest. That is a combo you see very rarely in the NBA. Shai is currently 25 years old and is an MVP candidate for this season. He has averaged over 30 points a game in his past two seasons in OKC. He is an elite all around player. His style off the court has boosted him to the limelight. Shai presently has a sneaker deal with Converse.
The Future
There is a real chance that the Thunder could be the champions of the 2024 NBA Finals. They are that good, and the scary thing is they are just getting started. The exact same thing can be said about Shai. He is getting better every season and seems to be nowhere near his ceiling as a player. He has also helped the Canadian Basketball team become contenders for gold at this summer’s Olympics. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is an all time great in the making.
- Adam C. Better
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