Ceiling for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is unlimited, just ask Steve Nash

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is only 24 years old, yet he’s currently turning in perhaps the greatest season by a Canadian in NBA history.

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Yes, the Hamilton product is having a campaign on par with the two Victoria, B.C.’s Steve Nash put together in 2004-05 and 2005-06 that ended up making Nash the only Canuck to earn NBA MVP honours (so far).

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The man known as SGA, who the Los Angeles Clippers had to reluctantly surrender, along with a stockpile of draft assets years ago to pair Paul George with Kawhi Leonard, came into Thursday’s rare home visit against the Raptors ranked fifth in points per game (31.3), third in steals (1.7), second in free throws made and not far from the top in deflections, assists and free throw percentage (90.7%). He’s also shot 51% from the field and has helped Oklahoma City surprisingly make a run for a playoff spot.

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Nash actually averaged about half as many points (15.5) in his first MVP season as Gilgeous-Alexander, in what was a much lower-throttle NBA and only shot 88% from the line, before rising another level the next season. Nash was 30 and 31 years old in those years. Again, Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t turn 25 until July and has yet to play with teammates the caliber of Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson, Nash’s running mates.

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Perhaps that’s why Nash tweeted Thursday in response to a story by Sportsnet’s Michael Grange asking if Gilgeous-Alexander could one day reach his level.

“Yes he can!  LOVE Shai’s game,” Nash tweeted.

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Nash is the only Canadian to have made an All-NBA team. And Nash actually made the All-NBA first team three times (along with the second team twice and the third team two more times). Gilgeous-Alexander is a lock to join him on one of those teams. The only question is if he earns his first berth on the first team squad now, or later.

Gilgeous-Alexander toyed with opponents while playing for Canada this summer. He was the best player on the court, often by a wide margin, pretty much every game, and that hasn’t changed most nights even against the best players in the world.

Nash never scored more than 18.8 points in a season, Andrew Wiggins so far has a personal best of 23.3. Jamal Murray has topped out at this point at 21.2, RJ Barrett 20.0. 

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Thursday marked only the fourth Toronto appearance for Gilgeous-Alexander, who had made his presence felt in the prior three outings, averaging 25.7 points, something only seven other players have bested over their careers. Who has averaged more? Oh, only greats named Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, James Harden and Kobe Bryant. That’s pretty good company.

In his December, 2019 appearance, all Gilgeous-Alexander did was score a then career-high 32 points, including the game-winner.

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SGA STATSPACK:

Where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranked amongst the NBA leaders before Thursday’s games:

Points per game – 5

Steals per game – 3

Win shares – 5

Value over replacement player – 5

Player efficiency rating – 6

Box plus/minus – 7

Free throw percentage – 5

Free throws made – 1

2-point attempts – 1

Minutes per game – 19