Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Labeled the ‘Michael Jackson of the NBA’ After Unreal 20-point Streak

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led his Oklahoma City Thunder to lead the league despite not having some of his teammates for stretches.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Labeled the ‘Michael Jackson of the NBA’ After Unreal 20-point Streak

Michael Jackson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been praised for his performance, drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson in basketball.
  • He recently broke Wilt Chamberlain's 20-point streak, maintaining high scoring despite team challenges.
  • Critics have shifted their views, acknowledging his efficiency and clutch performances in crucial moments.

Last season, after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first regular-season MVP, many basketball fans breathed a sigh of relief knowing he managed to keep the award within the continent.

That was because in the previous six editions, either someone from Europe, or in Joel Embiid’s case, Africa, won the Michael Jordan Trophy.

At the same time, others felt that his ‘unethical’ style of play, which includes a lot of foul baiting and free throws, made it seem as if it was better if someone playing proper basketball took his place.

The Canadian has had to live through those narratives all the way to the NBA Finals, where he led his Oklahoma City Thunder to their first-ever NBA championship.

After that, critics pointed out how he was the beneficiary of such a strong team. This season, the 27-year-old has seemingly taken those criticisms and elevated his play up a notch.

Despite missing fellow All-Star Jalen Williams and a bunch of his other OKC teammates for spurts, the team is still leading the league. That is why some have come to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s defense, with Kendrick Perkins saying this.

He is the Michael Jackson of basketball. He’s an artist and every album he puts out every year goes diamond… I have never seen a guard this efficient in my entire life.

Kendrick Perkins said on NBA Today

The former NBA champion pointed out how the Thunder superstar has been more efficient than some Hall of Famers, and that should shed his moniker as a ‘free-throw merchant.’

Perkins believes Gilgeous-Alexander is performing great hits year after year, akin to a certain late musician such as Michael Jackson.

Nikola Jokic’s former head coach continues his praise for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

This is not the first time Kendrick Perkins has waxed lyrical about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and it will likely not be his last. But the former’s colleague on ESPN, Michael Malone, has not spoken much about the Thunder guard.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the Wolves
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the Wolves (Image via ESPN/X)

The last time he did so, he earned the wrath of his former Denver Nuggets fans for supporting his former player, Nikola Jokic‘s MVP rival. This time, that history did not stop him from saying this.

To me, he does… He lives for the moment. … He puts his team on his back over and over and has been a joy to watch. Because that’s what greatness does, it rises to the occasion.

Michael Malone said

The 2023 NBA championship-winning head coach has extensive experience coaching possibly the world’s best basketball player. For him to then talk about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in such a manner proves that the OKC star has made his game good enough that no one can criticize it.

Malone pointed to the most important factor, and that is how the reigning MVP is more clutch than anyone else in the league. That is quite the statistic considering how many exceptionally good ‘clutch’ players are out there.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues his 20-point streak against Anthony Edwards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned all this praise from Kendrick Perkins and Michael Malone after he overtook the great Wilt Chamberlain’s 20-point streak.

Breaking a streak is one thing, and maintaining it is another, just as LeBron James found out earlier this season. Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Thunder guard was almost on the verge of ending his stellar run of 20-point performances.

Anthony Edwards and his teammates forced SGA to a mediocre 31.8% shooting efficiency. That explained why he stood at 17 points with less than two minutes to go.

But in one possession, with Ant-Man defending him, the Thunder star drove to the basket, stopped on a dime, and elevated backwards for a fadeaway that went in.

However, Edwards followed him every step of the way and ended up fouling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the ball left the latter’s hands. After the ensuing free throw, Thunder fans inside Paycom Center roared as their leading superstar managed to continue his streak.

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