Since the rampant rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he has had a constant supporter in TNT analyst Charles Barkley. From making a case for his All-Star selections to claiming him to be last season’s MVP, the Hall of Famer is a fan. Tonight, in a clash of MVPs with SGA taking on Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets, Barkley spotted some similarities between the Canadian star and a man he doesn’t rate quite high.

Gilgeous-Alexander gave many reasons for Barkley, to enamor his talent. Facing off against the 2023 NBA champions, he went back to his “consistent” life. In a prolific display, he poured in 28 points along with 8 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. At this point, the two-way prowess is simply undeniable.

Barkley, though, saw a level of patience in his unbridled production. While on TNT, he drew a parallel between SGA and a “prime” Kawhi Leonard. “That kid right there is, in my opinion, one of the top 5 to 7 best players in the world. He is so smooth. He kinda reminds me of Kawhi Leonard in his prime to be honest with you. Like he never rushes, he goes at his own pace the entire time,” Barkley said.

However, it’s far more than just fandom for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Charles Barkley ‘loves’ the Thunder as a reconstructed unit. While no ‘guarantee’ was passed, the Suns legend feels they can muster a championship hunt primarily due to them addressing their weaknesses in the offseason.

Notably, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein bring additional toughness to the roster while the latter provides them with grit near the glass that Chet Holmgren lacks at times. However, even with him out with an injury, they didn’t break a sweat, comfortably vanquishing the Nuggets. However, some fans didn’t agree with Barkley’s take.

NBA fans don’t agree with Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley might have had his opinion. However, the NBA community refuted his claims, not seeing many similarities between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Klaw. Some decided to turn their humor on, with one fan saying, “Me when I lie”.

Although not a carbon copy, there are aspects to their games that do fall on common ground. An example is their mastery of the mid-range. Leonard developed a quality touch around the rim during his latter days in San Antonio, becoming a true two-way threat. In the same vein, SGA might take slightly longer and play with greater flair, but has a refined and soft touch when operating in the death zone.

Yet that didn’t stop fans from diminishing Charles Barkley’s opinion. Primarily, they emphasized the aspect of the injuries that the 33-year-old has experienced throughout his professional journey. “He is nothing like Kawhi no injuries,” a fan stated in that regard.

It’s hard to argue against it. SGA, who was ironically swapped for Paul George, a demand many believe Leonard put forth to the Clippers is yet to suffer a serious injury. Additionally, with his poise and sharpness, he has proven to be durable for an 82-game season. The same can’t be said for Leonard, who hasn’t played over 60 games since joining the Clippers barring last season.

On the other hand, some feel there are no similarities in their game at all. “This is low key disrespectful to Kawhi,” one such comment read. Nature-wise, both Shai and Leonard are great at monitoring space and being impactful on both sides of the floor. But yes, there are some major differences in the specifics.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prefers to have the ball and creates a lot of his offense through drives and isolation. He had the third-most isolation possessions last season. On the other hand, the Klaw uses a range of weapons that don’t require him to be the fulcrum, but rather relax off the ball and get to his spots.

Furthermore, the Klaw, despite injuries, has carved out an illustrious legacy. SGA is knocking on the door but is yet to cross past the foothold. Still, a fan thinks from a skill perspective, he might have surpassed the former Raptor, proclaiming, “Haha but much better,” in support of SGA.

Do you see anything common in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kawhi Leonard? Let us know in the comments below.