Coming off his first MVP season and NBA championship, Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been likened to all-time great shot creators such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. However, according to NBA legend Charles Barkley, one key aspect makes Gilgeous-Alexander more similar to Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward LeBron James.
Gilgeous-Alexander took the league by storm in Year 7, utilizing his smooth, shifty offensive initiation tactics and lethal midrange shot to average an NBA-best 32.7 points per game. The three-time All-Star guided a powerhouse OKC squad to a league-high and franchise-record 68 regular-season wins en route to a grueling 2025 title run.
Still, Gilgeous-Alexander’s approach to the game is preventing Barkley from embracing the Bryant and Jordan comparisons.
Barkley Explains Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Mindset Mirrors LeBron James’ More Than Kobe Bryant’s or Michael Jordan’s
During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Barkley reflected on the hallmark traits of the top three players he’s ever watched: Bryant, Jordan, and James. According to the Hall of Famer, Bryant and Jordan’s assassin mentalities set them apart from James’ nice-guy persona.
“The three best players that I’ve ever seen were Michael, Kobe, and LeBron, and I’ll tell you the difference in the three,” Barkley began. “Michael and Kobe are dangerous. They’ll kill your a**. LeBron’s a nice guy, and that’s not a knock. He’s still great, great, great, but he’s a nice guy. Michael and Kobe aren’t nice guys; they’re different.”
Continuing, Barkley noted that Gilgeous-Alexander falls in the same category as James, operating as a friendlier megastar who thrives by capitalizing on his skill set and team dynamic.
“The one thing about OKC, even though I think Shai is a great, great player, he, to me, is more like LeBron,” Barkley said. “He’s a really nice guy. He’s not out there trying to kill you, and I think that’s the difference. They’ve got a bunch of really, really good players, and that’s fine.”
Behind their killer instincts and dedication to refining their offensive mastery, Jordan and Bryant ended their illustrious NBA careers with six and five championships, respectively. Meanwhile, James, whose prime years were defined by unmatched versatility, physical dominance, and high basketball IQ, boasts four titles entering Year 23.
Regardless, if Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. form a dynasty and rattle off a few more championships, Thunder fans likely won’t lose sleep over outsiders’ opinions of their franchise player. At age 27, Gilgeous-Alexander has ample time to add to his résumé and carve out a legacy as one of the most extraordinary backcourt talents in the history of the NBA.
