Within the trendy NBA, the expertise is far better than it has ever been within the historical past of the league.
Talking of a number of the most gifted gamers within the NBA proper now, it’s unimaginable to go away out Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder famous person Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander had an exceptional season, main the Thunder to the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention with a league-best 68-14 file.
SGA deservingly received the 2025 NBA MVP award and at present stands only one win away from main the Thunder to their first-ever NBA Championship. Amid this terrific marketing campaign, SGA has additionally earned LA Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal’s reward.
Through the prime of his profession, O’Neal was one of the vital dominant gamers ever. He spearheaded the Lakers’ three NBA Championships from 2000 to 2002.
In 2025, as an analyst, O’Neal not often shies away from giving his opinion on the present state of the league. He has usually criticized the present period as being weaker than his.
Nevertheless, even the Large Aristotle needed to tip his hat to Gilgeous-Alexander and Ja Morant on a latest episode of ‘The Large Podcast with Shaq.’
“Ja and Shai are comparable, they acquired a bizarre dope sport, you may’t, I can’t work out; I can’t determine Shai off. I’m sitting there making an attempt to match him to anyone I don’t know. Ja’s similar to that too,” O’Neal admitted.
It’s an incredible honor for Morant and SGA to obtain such reward from the 4x NBA champion. However even with O’Neal saying the 2 stars have a ‘bizarre dope’ sport, it’s straightforward to succeed in a conclusion.
If somebody had been requested to select between SGA and Morant on the time they had been drafted into the NBA, most would have picked the Memphis Grizzlies star as the higher participant.
In any case, Morant was the No. 2 general decide within the 2019 NBA Draft as in comparison with Shai being chosen on the 18th spot within the 2018 NBA Draft.
Morant additionally received the NBA’s Rookie of the 12 months award, whereas Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to the Thunder after his rookie season.
However quick ahead to 2025, and SGA has confirmed he’s leagues forward of Morant. The truth is, information offered by Sofascore backs this declare.
SGA averaged 32.7 factors, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists over 76 video games for the Thunder, whereas Morant put up 23.2 factors, 4.1 rebounds, and seven.3 assists over 50 video games for the Grizzlies.
Gilgeous-Alexander additionally shot 52% from the sector and 37% from the three-point line in comparison with Morant’s 45% from the sector and 31% from deep.
Moreover, Shai is having a historic postseason run, carrying the Thunder on his again. That features sweeping the Morant-led Grizzlies within the first spherical of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
In conclusion, O’Neal could have given his flowers to each Gilgeous-Alexander and Morant, however the distinction between the 2 stars is as totally different as day and evening.