Comparing NBA stars to Kentucky basketball players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
By Drew Koch
The Kentucky basketball team will lose at least three, and possibly six players to the NBA Draft. It’s time for some NBA comparisons. Up next in the six-part series is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Wildcats will lose at least three, and as many as six players to this year’s NBA Draft. Part of what NBA general managers and scouts do, is make comparisons of incoming players to those who are already part of an NBA team. This is Part Two of a six-part series comparing current NBA stars to the Kentucky basketball who’ve declared for the 2018 NBA Draft. Today we focus on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the unquestioned leader on the Kentucky basketball team last season. Though he didn’t lead the team in the scoring, he was arguably the best player on the court night in and night out for the Wildcats. Gilgeous-Alexander made his intentions to enter the NBA Draft known earlier this month. Shai is a tall and agile point guard who can finish at the rim. Dejounte Murray, San Antonio’s first round pick in 2016, has a very similar game to SGA.
Dejounte Murray declared for the NBA Draft after one season at Washington. The Spurs drafted Murray with the 29th pick in last year’s draft. His selection was made with the idea that Murray was the heir-apparent to the aging Tony Parker. In his first season in the NBA, Murray played in only 38 games. The Spurs assigned Murray to their D-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, several times during last season.
Next: Comparing current NBA stars to Kevin Knox
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, at 6’6″, has great size for an NBA point guard. Murray is 6’5″, and like SGA is a great finisher at the rim. He may possess a bit more speed and athleticism than Shai, but their style of play is very similar.
Murray, now in his second season with the Spurs is the starting point guard for San Antonio. Though Tony Parker is still a key piece for Gregg Popovich’s crew, Murray is the future in the San Antonio backcourt. Gilgeous-Alexander is projected to go in the mid-first round. He would be the perfect apprentice for the Los Angeles Clippers or Cleveland Cavaliers.