SHAI’S THE GUY
Gilgeous-Alexander shining ahead of first game in Toronto
It’s not a particularly wellkept secret that the Raptors organization was one of the teams sky-high on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ahead of last June’s NBA draft.
The size (6-foot-6), length (he has the wingspan of many small forwards) and basketball savviness Gilgeous-Alexander showcased during his lone season at Kentucky had much of the hoops world buzzing, including Toronto’s brain trust, which tried to trade into the draft unsuccessfully.
That Gilgeous-Alexander hails from nearby Hamilton would only have been a bonus to the Raptors.
The 20-year-old has not only met expectations for the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of his lone visit of the year to Toronto today, he has vastly exceeded them, having seized a starting role in game No. 10 of his career and held onto it ever since. As a starter, he has averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds and over a steal per game.
He has caught the attention of the league as a whole, and this week earned a spot at the Rising Stars game during the upcoming all-star weekend in Charlotte.
The Raptors have been paying attention, too.
“He’s a special player, he’s a special kid,” Toronto point guard Fred VanVleet said after practice on Saturday.
“He’s really good. He’s had a great year and they obviously believe in him. He’s been in a starting role most of the year, almost all of the year and that experience he is getting is invaluable. It’s going to make him a heck of a player down the line.”
For Danny Green, it has been a maturity that belies Gilgeous-Alexander’s age and experience that has stood out.
“Mature for a guy his age, as a rookie anyway,” Green said. “Plays at his own pace. Understands the game very well. I think he’s going to be a good pro in due time.”
There have been no signs to dispute that. All Gilgeous-Alexander has done on the court is continuously get better. He failed to crack the junior team at St. Thomas More in Hamilton in Grade 9, but dominated at the midget level before heading on to Sir Allan MacNab Secondary, and then to finish his high school career in Tennessee.
Kentucky had more ballyhooed recruits, but Gilgeous-Alexander was solid, before ramping things up considerably, first in the SEC tournament and then during Kentucky’s run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
The Clippers made a deal with Charlotte to grab him on draft night after the Hornets had selected Gilgeous-Alexander 11th overall.
He is far from a finished product, but observers can’t help but forecast big things for Gilgeous-Alexander simply from watching how he plays the game, something Green and VanVleet both mentioned on Saturday.
“It’s something you can’t really teach. To kind of slow the game down, slow yourself,” Green said.
“To understand that you don’t have to go fast to get to your spots or to play well. You can play at different paces.”
“It’s the length and obviously the craftiness, never in a rush, never in a hurry,” added VanVleet, before also noting another of Gilgeous-Alexander’s calling cards attacking the passing lanes and contesting shots with his length and athleticism.
While Gilgeous-Alexander might not look the part of point guard because of his size, he’s definitely not playing out of position when he runs the Los Angeles offence.
“He is young and athletic, but I love his vision,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said. “He’s really got some unique, I mean a special trait there. I don’t know if that’s one of those coachable things, or somebody just gets immersed in however he grew up playing.
“It happens. That’s probably my favourite thing about him. I like his confidence (as well). He’s got a little swag to him, for being so young and his scoring is coming, too.”
Canadian basketball fans will be able to get their own look at Gilgeous-Alexander this afternoon.