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The Oklahoma City Thunder\u2019s front office could not have envisaged the meteoric rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when they traded for him in 2019.<\/p>\n
Joining after a season for the LA Clippers where he averaged just under 11 points, he has finished this term as a nominee for the regular season MVP award.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the focal point of Oklahoma\u2019s rise to the top of the Western Conference, bettering last season’s campaign where they did not make the play-offs.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old is right up there in terms of offensive output, hitting 30.4 points per game – the second highest in the league.<\/p>\n
But at the other end, he is just as strong on defence with an average of two steals per match.<\/p>\n
His skills in isolation, on transition, and in the pick and roll have stood out. <\/p>\n
The young Thunder squad, known for not only their on-court brilliance but also their impressive post-game barking, external<\/span><\/a>, have made waves in the league this year and pulled off a clean sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n