Longtime NBA writer Bill Simmons is known for his extremely in-depth insight into the league and his almost savant-like knowledge when it comes to the history of basketball.
He’s also considered a Boston Celtics homer, and he doesn’t seem to pass up any opportunities to talk about how excellent the team’s players, both past and present, are.
But he recently dropped his homer act and gave Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander some massive praise by saying he’s a better player than the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, per SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“SGA is a top-5 guy in the league now,” Simmons said.
“SGA is a Top 5 guy in the league now”
Founder of The Ringer, @BillSimmons, tells @TermineRadio & @JumpShot8 why he ranked the Thunder’s star over Tatum. pic.twitter.com/hyuj9j29Jo
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) January 3, 2024
One could make a strong argument that Simmons’ statement is actually true, at least right now.
Tatum is putting up his usual numbers — 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game, to be exact — this season for the 26-7 Celtics, who are considered by most to be the best team in basketball right now.
Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, is putting up 31.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.4 dimes a game, and he’s also shooting a remarkable 54.9 percent from the field.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of his game is that even though he’s 6-foot-6 and just 180 pounds, he’s among the league leaders in free throw attempts, and when he gets there, he’s practically automatic with his 90.7 percent free throw shooting percentage this year.
The 25-year-old has also been improving on the defensive end, and he currently leads the NBA with 2.6 steals per game.
Thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander’s outstanding production, the Thunder have so far surpassed the expectations of most people, and they currently hold a 23-9 record, which is the second-best mark in the Western Conference.
NEXT:
Oklahoma City Thunder Are Making NBA History This Season
