Who Does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Game Remind You Of?

[OrangeBlueSkies]

He looks like a future all-star to me (guards are just so good man it's crazy). But who does his game remind you of?

He's smooth and his handles and ability to change speeds are crazy, and he's a legit 6'6."

Billionaires Nickeil Alexander-Walker...I actually the Nickeil will be good one day though.

They are cousins

[4pointkiller]

Gary Payton. Guy you always have to keep an eye on because he is a highly skilled floor general

[OkcSinceSGA]

He looks like a future all-star to me (guards are just so good man it's crazy). But who does his game remind you of?

He's smooth and his handles and ability to change speeds are crazy, and he's a legit 6'6."

All star? Try perennial all star, maybe even superstar. This guy is gonna be a legit monster. I can see a peak player of 25/5/5 with great defense that gets to the FT often.

Somehow I underestimated you SGA!

[LaLover11]

Shaun Livingston before the injurys and a green light

[OkcSinceSGA]

Btw nobody said anything off the wall negative here, so nobody is really getting “exposed”. Just thought it’s cool to see how he turned out compared to what we all projected.

Some of the mods or great posters can you give analysis for a comp? I’m not very good at comps and I’m curious who he reminds you of? For me it’s like Penny/Wade mix? I dunno. He does most of his damage in the post, driving, mid, FT. Extremely low turnover guy.

[TinmanZBoy]

He looks like a future all-star to me (guards are just so good man it's crazy). But who does his game remind you of?

He's smooth and his handles and ability to change speeds are crazy, and he's a legit 6'6."

All star? Try perennial all star, maybe even superstar. This guy is gonna be a legit monster. I can see a peak player of 25/5/5 with great defense that gets to the FT often.

Prophet

[Mr B]

DeMar DeRozen. Smooth handle, great from the mid range, good not great from 3. Shai is a better 3 point shooter but not by much.

[liquidswords]

The D-Wade comparisons are lazy. He's not nearly as explosive as D-Wade. I like the Derozan comparison but SGA is even shiftier and smoother.

[Saint_Killa]

He's what Shaun Livingston supposed to become.

[Lunartic]

Faster-No-postgame-Kawhi

[OkcSinceSGA]

Faster-No-postgame-Kawhi

He’s got a fantastic post game. But unlike Penny/Kobe/Wade he just isn’t big enough to use it constantly and would rather face up. He’s got beautiful footwork back to basket though.

[ForeverTFC]

Demar never had the handle SGA has at this age/arc of development. SGA is also much faster and a + defensively. And Demar never really learned how to distribute the ball until he started playing for Pop. I'm really not a fan of the comparison.

[OkcSinceSGA]

The D-Wade comparisons are lazy. He's not nearly as explosive as D-Wade. I like the Derozan comparison but SGA is even shiftier and smoother.

The Wade comparison I don’t think has to do with explosion. It has to do with the pressure they both put on the paint, the handles, the physicality, the insane body control, the slithery moves and deceleration. Both him and Wade didn’t rely on the 3 really. He’s got that 90s and 00s guard physicality and paint focus. Edwards is the same in that regard.

But the problem is SGA is extremely hard to comp. He’s got a lot of unusual traits. For example scrawny, but super strong and physical. Not particularly explosive as a leaper, but nobody can stay in front of his first step or handle.

[pillwenney]

No real comp for him. I'll give you a list of attributes, and you can build a comp.

Pros:

Size (closest build comp I can think of is young Penny, who was a little taller but also scrawny and long)
Lights out shooting from mid (CP3/Cassell- his mentors)
Really creative finisher (reminds me of a longer D Rose with his finishes in traffic)
Amazing footwork in the post (guards of the 90's)
Great change of speed/tempo, deceleration (reminds me of Harden)
Super long strides (Giannis)

Cons:

Slow release on his shot, with a bit of a hitch
Inconsistent 3 point shooting
Physically weak (needs to put on weight for sure and keep getting stronger)
Athleticism is mostly average
Handles are average for an NBA guard, nothing special


I mean if I had a gun to my head? He's something like a bigger, more versatile Sam Cassell with the post moves of young Penny.

A stretched out Cassell is weirdly the first name that came to mind for me too.

[Patches Perry]

His footwork in the paint and mid-range reminds me somewhat of a 6'6 Tony Parker. He plays below the rim mostly but still somehow gets good/easy looks. Pivot game strong.

This video below shows 9 minutes of Parker footwork. The first 1:30 is basically the same spin move over and over, but after that you see a lot of Shai type stuff, especially the move @ 2:11

Watch on YouTube

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

A 6'6'' Samuel Cassell isn't a bad comp

[clippertown]

He looks like a young Kawhi to me. It's the precision and patience combined with his footwork, mid-range game, lack of emotion and willingness to step up under pressure that reinforces my opinion. Its possible he will be a better version of Kawhi eventually.

[Above The Rim]

A less flashy Mcgrady. Everything before the finish makes me think of Mcgrady.

[JustBuzzin]

A more efficient Larry Hughes.

Do your homework and thank me later.

[srhcan]

He looks like a future all-star to me (guards are just so good man it's crazy). But who does his game remind you of?

He's smooth and his handles and ability to change speeds are crazy, and he's a legit 6'6."

All star? Try perennial all star, maybe even superstar. This guy is gonna be a legit monster. I can see a peak player of 25/5/5 with great defense that gets to the FT often.

And you guys were about to trade him for a draft pick, I remember couple of seasons ago