When it comes to NBA superstars, confidence often separates the good from the great, and it develops over time through exceptional performances.
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has displayed plenty of those throughout his career, but according to teammate Luguentz Dort, there was one defining moment that proved he was built differently.
It happened five years ago during SGA’s first season with the Thunder. Dort, then just a rookie, watched in awe as Gilgeous-Alexander made a bold move during a game in Detroit, and what followed left him stunned.
Luguentz Dort Shares Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Bold Move
Dort has watched SGA grow into one of the NBA’s biggest stars over the past several years, but it only took one moment for him to realize he was different. In that instant, he truly believed Gilgeous-Alexander was built for greatness.
Now the world sees it, too. SGA was just named the 2024-25 NBA MVP, surpassing superstars like Stephen Curry and LeBron James, after leading the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets some insane glaze from Richard Jefferson on the broadcast 😂
“Like all great events in history, you just witnessed this.” pic.twitter.com/VhMBgH6EMp
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) June 9, 2025
Dort recalled a night during the 2019–20 season, before the COVID shutdown, when Gilgeous-Alexander had just arrived in Oklahoma City after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder were stacked with veterans like Chris Paul and Dennis Schröder, but even then, Dort saw something different in the 21-year-old rising star.
“There was a small moment about five years ago, when I realized Shai was like no joke,” Dort said via The Players’ Tribune. “This was in the 2019–2020 season, before the bubble…It all goes back to this one night in Detroit.”
During a timeout, the Thunder were in the huddle discussing the next play. Despite being one of the youngest players on the roster, SGA was already their best scorer. But the play wasn’t drawn up for him. Instead of getting frustrated, he calmly spoke up.
“Shai’s a chill dude. He didn’t get mad or anything. He just kept it real,” Dort said. “He was like, ‘Let me get a couple plays,’ or something like that. A young player saying that at the time was like, ‘Oh.’ He wasn’t out of pocket or anything, it was just bold.”
What happened next left Dort stunned.
“It would’ve been one thing if he had said it and gone out and got a few buckets. But it was Shai, so he went on like a 12–0 run by himself. I was like, ‘That’s real.’”
That was just a preview of things to come for SGA, who has evolved into the league’s top scorer and can score on opponents at will. His dominance has been on full display during these playoffs as he’s led Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals.
Dort’s story is a reminder that great players don’t just wait for opportunities. They create their own moment, and that mindset has turned Gilgeous-Alexander into one of the NBA’s elite.
