Bill Simmons says OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 'top-5' player in the NBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to take his game to new levels.
After earning an All-NBA first-team selection last season, the 25-year-old OKC Thunder guard is playing even better basketball this time around. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging career highs of 31.4 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game.
And the basketball world is taking notice. In an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio on Tuesday, The Ringer's Bill Simmons shared his thoughts on where Gilgeous-Alexander ranks in the league.
"To me, SGA is a top-5 guy in the league now," Simmons said. "At the end of these games, I've watched him the entire season. Whoever the other team's best player is, he's either matched the guy or outplayed them. And it's happened too many times now."
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The latest example of that occurred on Tuesday during OKC's 127-123 home win over the Boston Celtics, who sit atop the Eastern Conference standings.
On a night when Boston's Jayson Tatum recorded 30 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, Gilgeous-Alexander refused to be overshadowed. He racked up 36 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and he led his team to victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the driving force behind an OKC team that's second in the Western Conference standings with a 23-10 record.
"The guy is unstoppable," Simmons said. "You can't discount it anymore because he's on a small-market team and they haven't been in any big games yet. This guy is one of the best guys in the league."
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a top-5 NBA player
