SGA's Historic Season: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Outshine His Classmate?

The Unthinkable Year

I’ve been covering the NBA for nearly a decade—watching dynasties rise and fall—but this season has felt like stepping into an alternate reality. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t just play well; he rewrote the rulebook. MVP? Check. Finals MVP? Check. Scoring champion? Double check. All-NBA First Team? Yep—and he did it all with a young Thunder squad that looks like it was drafted from next year’s future roster.

It’s not just about winning—it’s about how you win.

When One Man Becomes an Era

LeBron James has come close to this level of dominance only twice in his career: back-to-back championships with Finals MVPs and regular-season MVPs. But never has he held all four major individual honors in one year—especially not while also leading his team to the title and averaging top-tier scoring numbers.

Shai did it all in 2024.

And here’s where my inner British cynic kicks in: when I saw him take over Game 7 against the Warriors—with 41 points, 9 assists, and zero hesitation—I whispered to my dog ‘Offside,’ who looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

Because yes—the man is that good.

The Classmate Left Behind?

Now let’s talk about Jalen Suggs—yes, the same guy from their college days at Florida State who was once hailed as a generational point guard prospect.

He was on pace for five All-NBA selections by age 25… but now? He’s still chasing consistency while Shai becomes a household name across continents—from Accra to Auckland.

Not every prodigy grows into a legend—but when they do, they leave everyone else blinking at their rearview mirror.

Is this fair to Suggs? Probably not. But sports don’t care about fairness—they care about performance—and right now, Shai is performing at another level.

Youth Is Not Just Energy—It’s Firepower

What truly terrifies opponents isn’t just Shai’s scoring or leadership—it’s how young Oklahoma City remains. No veteran anchor on that roster except maybe Chet Holmgren being groomed as tomorrow’s anchor man.

The Thunder aren’t rebuilding—they’re reinventing basketball through youth-powered intensity. And if you think their core will cool down next season? Think again: these kids are already playing like veterans because they’ve been through playoff fire before age 25.

That kind of maturity doesn’t come from practice drills—it comes from belief… and confidence built on real success.

A New Kind of Legacy?

I often ask myself: what makes someone legendary? The answer isn’t just stats—it’s resonance. It’s how fans remember your name during trivia night or how parents name their children after you (yes, there are already two boys named ‘Shai’ born last spring).

The fact that we’re having serious conversations about whether Shai is the best player alive—not just among his generation—is proof enough that something historic is unfolding right before our eyes.

The question isn’t whether he deserves these accolades anymore—it’s whether anyone can catch up before time runs out.