How much did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander average in college?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is Canadian basketball superstar who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. Although Gilgeous-Alexander currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he spent his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers where he had some unforgettable moments. One such moment was his stellar performances in the first round of the 2019 playoffs against then two-time defending champions the Golden State Warriors.

As a rookie, Gilgeous-Alexander fearlessly embraced the bright lights of playoff basketball and thrived under pressure. He showcased his potential with impressive performances, scoring 18 points in Game 1, 25 in Game 4, and 22 in Game 6. These displays established him as a superstar level talent, unflinching in critical postseason moments.

Later, in the 2019 off season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to the Thunder and since then, he has become one of the league's premier point guards. His claim to fame rests on his fluid offensive style, marked by extraordinary footwork and exceptional shooting abilities.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is known for attacking the rim aggressively in search of easy lay-ups as he led the league in drives per game in the 2022-23 season. He is especially known to use clever pump fakes that help him draw fouls consistently. His ability in drawing fouls through deceptive moves propelled him to rank third in the league for free throw attempts per game. SGA also has extraordinary accuracy from the charity stripe, as he had an impressive free throw percentage of 90.5%, fifth best in the league.

In the 2022-23 NBA Season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 68 games as he was named All-star and on the All-NBA First team.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander College Stats

In 2017-18, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 boards, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Kentucky Wildcats. He only played one season with the Wildcats, starting in 24 out of 37 games.

As the 2017-18 collegiate season started, SGA played as the back-up point guard behind freshman point guard Quade Green, but soon, he stepped up his performances that made coach John Calipari to make him a starter.

SGA was in tremendous form throughout the SEC tournament as his Wildcats won the tournament. In the SEC final, he scored 29 points on a brilliant 10/16 shooting, along with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Who was on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Kentucky team?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's time at the University of Kentucky saw him surrounded by a talented group of teammates. As many as six of his Kentucky teammates have made it to the NBA as of 2023.

Kevin Knox was the best player and leading scorer on SGA’s Kentucky team. A versatile forward, Knox is known for his athleticism and offensive IQ as he was drafted ninth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2018 NBA Draft. He currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers as of October 2023.

PJ Washington was another well-rounded forward who was a vital contributor to Shai’s Kentucky squad. Washington was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2019 NBA Draft with the 12th overall pick. His talents have successfully transitioned to the NBA as he is a still significant contributor on both ends of the floor.

Hamidou Diallo, known for his exceptional athleticism and tenacious defense at the point guard position, stood out at Kentucky alongside SGA. He was drafted in the second round of 2018 NBA Draft, and played with a couple of teams in the NBA. He first played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, alongside SGA, and is currently with the Detroit Pistons. Diallo also won the 2019 NBA Dunk competition.

Jarred Vanderbilt wasn’t really a star player at Kentucky when played alongside Gilgeous-Alexander. He struggled for minutes and was the third option at the power forward spot. However, ever since Vanderbilt entered the NBA as a second rounder in 2018, he has carved out a niche for himself in the league as a defensive juggernaut. He currently plays for the LA Lakers.

Nick Richards was known for his dominant presence in the paint as he was the starting center of SGA’s Kentucky team. His shot-blocking abilities and rim protection were noticed by NBA scouts as he was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. Richarads was later traded to the Charlotte Hornets, where he is playing alongside his Kentucky teammate PJ Washington.

Lastly, Wenyen Gabriel is another agile forward with a strong defensive game who brought his never-ending energy to the 2017-18 Kentucky squad. Gabriel went undrafted, but showed his versatility and tenacity by playing in the G-league. He eventually got his chance in the NBA, and has played for the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans.