What was OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander like at Kentucky? Two Hornets explain
When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander arrived at Kentucky as a freshman in 2017, he didn't bring much with him.
The 18-year-old guard from Hamilton, Ontario, had a bare dorm room. He didn't even have pillows or blankets, according to former Wildcats teammate P.J. Washington.
All Gilgeous-Alexander had was clothes and shoes, and that was all he needed.
"He was all about his clothes and his game," Washington said. "That's about it."
The same can still be said of Gilgeous-Alexander, who faced Washington and fellow UK teammate Nick Richards on Friday night in the Thunder's 126-106 wire-to-wire win over the Charlotte Hornets at Paycom Center.
The OKC guard stuffed the stat sheet with game highs of 31 points, nine assists, five steals and three blocks. It's the latest in a season-long series of strong performances by Gilgeous-Alexander, whose larger-than-life persona has outgrown his humble housing setup in college.
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From walking the runway during Paris Men's Fashion Week in 2022 to earning an All-NBA first-team selection last season, Gilgeous-Alexander has become a superstar both on and off the court.
"Just seeing his process of growing and where he is now has been amazing," Washington said. "I'm proud of him. I'm happy for him."
Gilgeous-Alexander's empty college dorm room reflected his role with Kentucky at the start of the 2017-18 season. He had plenty of room to grow.
Gilgeous-Alexander arrived on campus as the second-lowest-ranked player in the Wildcats' eight-man recruiting class of 2017. The four-star prospect got overshadowed by a group that featured six five-star freshmen, including five McDonald's All-Americans.
Still, Gilgeous-Alexander never got discouraged as he dug his way out of Kentucky's abyss of a depth chart.
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"I just feel like it was his overall mindset," Richards said. "He didn't come into school being a starter. He just kept his head down. ... He was one of those guys who really didn't care what position he was in."
Richards was roommates with Gilgeous-Alexander, who didn't spend a ton of downtime in the dorm.
Gilgeous-Alexander would make the short trip to Kentucky's gym in the morning to work on his game. He'd then participate in the team's practice. And at night, he'd return once again for another workout.
"He's probably one of the hardest workers I've ever seen," Washington said. "He was in there every day trying to perfect his craft, and it just shows on the court."
By the time Kentucky opened its season against Utah Valley, Gilgeous-Alexander had become the starting point guard.
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Gilgeous-Alexander ultimately topped everyone else in the Wildcats' food chain. Kentucky was his team by the end of the season, as he finished with averages of 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander received All-SEC second-team honors. He then declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, where the Clippers got him with the No. 11 overall pick in a trade with the Hornets.
Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to OKC in 2019, and he has since become the face of the franchise.
The 25-year-old guard was recently named a starter for the All-Star game in Indianapolis on Feb. 18. And as OKC (34-15) enters play Sunday tied with Minnesota for the top spot in the Western Conference standings, Gilgeous-Alexander finds himself in the running for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award.
Gilgeous-Alexander received MVP chants from the crowd at Paycom Center on numerous occasions during OKC's win over Charlotte. And despite no longer wearing the same uniform, his former Kentucky teammates couldn't help but watch with a sense of pride.
"Even in college, I knew he was going to be a great player," Washington said. "Credit to him. He's been working his butt off for years, and his career shows that. I'm just happy for him, and I hope he wins MVP."
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander climbed ranks at Kentucky
