NBA All-Star Game 2024: First Time Starter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Revealed Why He “Never Liked” His Captain LeBron James’ Game

For the second time in his six seasons, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an All-Star. For the past few seasons, he was knocking on the doors of stardom. SGA made the All-NBA first team last season, but the Oklahoma City Thunder weren’t as successful. Now they are flourishing with Shai at the epicenter of all things. He was voted in as a starter and will play under the captainship of LeBron James.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a wonderful season. For the second time in a row, he is averaging over 30 and is one of the leading scores in the league. His drives are nearly unstoppable, producing 17 points per game through drives. The 25-year-old embodies the modern-day guard perfectly. His game is refined and reliant on his immaculate mid-range and finishing.

The Canadian can switch speeds and fool defenses almost at will. In his first All-Star season, he will start for the West who have LeBron James as their captain. The King has been a model for the younger generation as he was widely considered the best player on the planet for over a decade. Surprisingly, Shai isn’t a fan.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t a fan of LeBron James

Back in March last year, Shai was asked about what influence James had on him as a young basketball player. Scouring the most common answers, LeBron James is an inspiration for this generation. At his peak, there was no one like him. Strong, agile, and destructive, James was the messiah of basketball.

Shai however, was never able to relate to him due to the differences in their game. “His game, I never really liked his game. To me, when I was younger, he was just super athletic, I wasn’t that. He was 6’8 and super strong, and I wasn’t that either. So I never like, related… Just kill you with skill. It is fun beating Bron,” he said on an episode of Pass The Rock. 

For an average LeBron James fan, it might sound disrespectful. But when you look at it closely, Gilgeous-Alexander does make a fair point.

When LeBron James came into the league, he was a force of nature. One of the rare, or only players to fit into the NBA mold right out of high school. In transition, there was no animal like him. He could cover the entire length of the court in a flash. At 6’8″, LeBron James was built like a monster, dunking on defenders and making absurd plays. Opponents didn’t know how to deal with his athleticism.

With that being said, James isn’t just a force of nature dominating due to his gifts. He has perfected every intricate part of his game. James often plays to his strengths as a scorer, but he is so much more. After becoming the all-time leading scorer, most forget that James has the vision of an eagle on the court. He can see the game faster than an average NBA player. Reading defenses, and breaking down opponents psychologically was what made LeBron James so tough to beat in the playoffs.

Many tried, and many failed!

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a lot different to James. He scores mostly in isolation. Shai loves being on an island and creating a path to get to his spot. Due to his natural size advantage, he can finish over guards well. When a bigger defender is on him, he utilizes his patented mid-range game, a forgotten art in basketball.

READ MORE: LeBron James vs Stephen Curry – Who has a Better All-Star Record? Stats, MVPs, Other Contests Participated in, and More

SGA has carved his path and got his style to the forefront. When they play together this coming weekend, we will see what happens when a slashing forward combines with an elegant guard.

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