Examining the Oklahoma City Thunder’s preseason, one of the more surprising stats from the two-week slate is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishing fourth in field goal attempts.
Even though he only played in two preseason games, Gilgeous-Alexander’s eight-shot attempts in 23.3 minutes are a bit surprising. Jalen Williams (12), Josh Giddey (10.3) and Chet Holmgren (9.5) all averaged more field goal attempts.
While this trend likely won’t carry over into the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive load might be less due to his younger teammates’ progression.
Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20.3 field-goal attempts were easily first on the Thunder — Giddey was No. 2 at 14.7. The same applies to usage rate — Gilgeous-Alexander was first at 32.8% while Giddey was second at 24.6%.
If things pan out right for the Thunder this season, those numbers might dip for Gilgeous-Alexander as some of his younger teammates begin to catch up to him in terms of production.
For most players with Gilgeous-Alexander’s stature — one of the best players in the league coming off a career season — they might take exception to being asked to do less. The 25-year-old could easily protest this approach and create an uncomfortable situation between himself and his teammates.
Instead, it sounds like Gilgeous-Alexander understands the benefit of being asked to do less offensively and allow his teammates to grow as players as they reach their primes.
“It’s interesting because we saw him in that context first,” Daigneault said about Gilgeous-Alexander. “We first saw him in more of an off-ball role. The thing about that (2019-20) year, when we played all those guys together, he was guarding the biggest guy/wing on a lot of occasions… We saw him kinda as a secondary playmaker because (Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder) were so ball-dominant…
“(It tells me) he wants to win. It’s a team game. There’s five guys on the court. If your individual success inhibits the other players from becoming successful, it ultimately holds your team back. He’s not a guy that does that… Most of his teammates have played well with his existence as a high-volume, very efficient head of a snake…
“We want to have a style and we want to have a team where everyone can thrive. The fact that he has that mindset is certainly helpful in that process.”
Daigneault gives a great answer when asked about SGA’s willingness to let his teammates be successful
“(It tells me) he wants to win… If your individual success inhibits other players from becoming successful, it ultimately holds your team back. He’s not a guy that does that.” pic.twitter.com/UTCQWjJ8Y4
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 21, 2023
