After breaking out last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has entered the conversation of being one of the best players in the league.
The 25-year-old enjoyed the best season of his career last year, where he scored a career-high 31.4 points on 51% shooting and earned All-NBA honors for the first time. He led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 40-win campaign.
The remarkable season led Gilgeous-Alexander to finish No. 5 in MVP voting.
Graduating as one of the best players, Gilgeous-Alexander has received high praise from his peers around the league. The latest example involved an NBA champion, as Bruce Brown spoke highly of him.
“I would say this year, the toughest players to guard was ANT and Shai,” Brown said on his appearance on the “Run Your Race” podcast.
"[Nuggets vs. Timberwolves] was supposed to be a sweep… Anthony Edwards was going OD though… I would say this year, the toughest players to guard was ANT and Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander].”
—Bruce Brown
(via Run Your Race Podcast, @TidalLeague) pic.twitter.com/RSQJuLS6VQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 18, 2023
The 26-year-old has had plenty of battles with Gilgeous-Alexander over the years, especially last season when he played for fellow northwest divisional team Denver Nuggets.
Brown played a vital role in the Nuggets’ 2023 championship run. His contributions helped him receive a two-year, $45 million deal from the Indiana Pacers this offseason.
Brown previously played for the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets in the first four seasons of his career. He was drafted 42nd overall in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft.
