Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to earn recognition across the league, and Paul George is the latest to weigh in.
Speaking on his show “Podcast P,” George praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s trajectory, saying, “I think Shai is going to hold this next era down.” The former Clippers teammate emphasized the 26-year-old’s maturity, work ethic, and elite playmaking abilities, placing him alongside the league’s past era-defining figures such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
Gilgeous-Alexander just completed a historic 2024–25 campaign, leading the Thunder to an NBA-best 68–14 regular-season record. He was named the league’s MVP after averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game on 51.9% shooting.
The Canadian guard’s postseason performance elevated his standing even further. He led Oklahoma City to its first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, capturing Finals MVP honors after a dominant seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers.
His 72 points across the first two NBA Finals games marked the most in league history for a player making their Finals debut. He finished the series averaging 34.9 points per game and recorded 15 playoff games with at least 30 points—joining Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kobe Bryant in that elite club.
Gilgeous-Alexander also set an NBA record with 12 playoff games of 30 points and 5 assists, surpassing both Jordan and James in that category.
George, who played with Gilgeous-Alexander during the latter’s rookie season in Los Angeles, highlighted how far his former teammate has come. “He’s putting himself in a category of his own,” George said. “He’s tough, man. I think he’s the future for sure.”
That future is already becoming the present. Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in total 20-point, 30-point, 40-point, and 50-point games during the regular season, becoming the first Canadian in NBA history to lead the league in scoring.
He also became the fastest player in Thunder franchise history to score 10,000 career points and broke multiple team records previously held by Kevin Durant.
With Oklahoma City’s young core and elite defense, Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership has put the franchise back into championship contention. The Thunder now hold the best regular-season record in team history and their first NBA championship since 1979.
