Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is considered one of the best basketball players in the NBA right now.

There is a reason he’s the reigning MVP, and people are blown away by his work on the court.

What makes him so special?

Sitting down on “The Young Man & The Three,” Tracy McGrady talked about Gilgeous-Alexander and compared him to two of the best players of all time.

“He’s incredible. [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]’s playing basketball the way Kobe [Bryant] played it, the way [Michael Jordan] played it. In between game is what I see from Shai, and he’s surrounded by shooters. That’s why he didn’t really have too many bad games because he’s not settling for threes,” McGrady said, via ClutchPoints.

“He’s incredible… He’s playing basketball the way Kobe [Bryant] played it, the way [Michael Jordan] played it. In between game is what I see from Shai… He’s not settling for threes.”

Tracy McGrady on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 🙌

(via @OldManAndThree)pic.twitter.com/uEShdyyxjE

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 16, 2025

Gilgeous-Alexander can shoot threes, and he has made some impressive ones throughout his career, but he’s a talented shooter for more than just that.

As noted by McGrady, his focus on the in between game is one of the things that highlights his skill set.

He doesn’t just settle for three-pointers and finds a way to score beyond shooting from beyond the arc.

He is doing all he can for his team, and he also knows he has the support of great players who can sink three-pointers instead of him.

This takes pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander and allows him to focus on what he does best, not forcing him to be someone he isn’t.

Over the last decade, the three-pointer has become a vital part of the game, and dozens of players have attempted to enhance their ability to shoot it.

Gilgeous-Alexander is looking at the bigger picture, and that impresses McGrady the most – and reminds him of two NBA icons.

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