Bill Simmons, a well-known Celtics fan, has said that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a superior player over Jayson Tatum.
In recent weeks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented his position as the front-runner for MVP, garnering praise from all across the world. Every day, Shai gains new admirers thanks to his play. Although Bill Simmons has always liked Shai, he recently made a significant statement on SiriusXM NBA Radio when he declared that Shai was superior to Jayson Tatum, the outstanding player for the Boston Celtics.
“SGA is one of the league’s top five players. I was shocked that someone had to leave because I had given him priority over Tatum. The rationale being that, at the conclusion of these games, and based on my observation of SGA during the season, the best player on the other side has either equaled or surpassed him. It has now occurred far too frequently. Now since he plays for a small-market team, you can no longer ignore it.”
Being a Boston native and ardent Celtics supporter, Simmons’ decision to side with Shai in this battle speaks volumes about how good he has been this year.
On the top team in the NBA, Tatum averages 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. But Tatum has also had more than his share of crucial moments, frequently getting out of difficult situations because to the power of the players surrounding him. He is the Celtics’ leader, though, and he has played well overall.
Although Shai’s Thunder are having comparable success in a more difficult conference, they weren’t predicted to be nearly as good as the Celtics. Shai is faring better than Tatum individually this season, averaging 31.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.6 steals. Since they are both young, their disagreement will only get stronger with time.
Is NBA Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the best?
Finally, we should have a genuine discussion regarding Shai’s status as the NBA’s best point guard. Over the last five seasons, Luka Doncic has been outstanding. Many have awarded him the title for years, but Stephen Curry has also assumed the unofficial title following his 2022 title victory. It’s obvious that Luka and Shai are in the running to be the best point guard in the NBA after Shai defeated Steph to make the All-NBA First Team with Luka last season.
Due to his versatility on the court, Luka might be the NBA’s most influential offensive player. He is the driving force behind the Mavericks offense because without his scoring and creativity, the group is unable to play effectively. This season, he is averaging 33.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.4 assists. Coming off of a December in which, without Kyrie Irving, he averaged 37.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 11.1 assists.
Shai, who leads the league in steals this season, is a two-way menace. It’s difficult to argue Shai isn’t the best point guard in the NBA this season, even though his offense isn’t as effective as Luka’s and he has a stronger team surrounding him. As seen by the Thunder’s victories over the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Celtics in the last ten days, he guides the team out of tight circumstances to secure significant victories.
Shai’s squad has been healthy and has a stronger roster than the Mavericks, so it’s difficult to judge them, but it’s reasonable to suggest that Shai ought to be ahead of Luka in MVP rankings this year.