The 2024-25 NBA Finals have been nothing short of electrifying. With stunning comebacks, clutch performances and jaw-dropping plays, the Oklahoma City Thunder have become the talk of the basketball world.
In Game 4 on June 13, the Thunder showed their resilience against the Indiana Pacers. Despite trailing for most of the game, OKC stormed back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Pacers 31-17 to seal a 111-104 win and tie the series at 2-2. Leading the charge was none other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who poured in 35 points in a performance that had fans and analysts reaching for historical comparisons.
But those comparisons have sparked some controversy in NBA circles, and now one legend has stepped in to cool the hype surrounding the young star.
NBA Legend Believes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Not the Next Kobe Bryant
On the latest episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, co-host Shannon Sharpe addressed the growing comparison between Kobe Bryant and Gilgeous-Alexander that’s been making the rounds in NBA media.
Sharpe asked his guest, Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton, if he believed the comparison was valid. “The Glove” didn’t hold back.
“Nowhere near Kobe, man. There’s going to be one Kobe. That’s it. It’s only one Kobe. Don’t y’all compare people to people, especially somebody like Kobe Bryant. Let Shai be Shai. I don’t think he’s Kobe yet. I don’t think he ever will be Kobe. He’s a great basketball player, but you guys slow down. It ain’t going to be no Kobe,” Payton said during the podcast.
Payton’s take came in response to former NBA guard Lou Williams, who made headlines on the “Run It Back” TV show. Williams, who played one season alongside Bryant, boldly declared that Gilgeous-Alexander is the next “Black Mamba.”
His statement followed Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic feat of scoring 72 points across his first two NBA Finals games, breaking the previous record held by Allen Iverson.
“I was having a conversation with one of my friends, and he was asking me about SGA and I said, ‘This is going to sound crazy.’ I said, ‘But we’re looking at a Kobe Bryant being created, we’re looking at like that next generation of Kobes and this and that.’ And he was like ‘SGA?’ And I said ‘Absolutely.’ Through the first two games, he’s put 72 points on the board,” said Williams during the segment.
Payton’s comments served as a reality check. While Gilgeous-Alexander’s performances have been outstanding, comparing him to one of the greatest to ever play might be premature.
Bryant’s career spanned 20 seasons, during which he averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He was an 18-time All-Star and won five NBA titles.
Gilgeous-Alexander, in contrast, is in his seventh season. He has already earned three All-Star selections, and his talent is clear, but he still has a long road ahead before being placed in the same breath as Bryant.
It’s too early to say if Williams’ take is justified. Greatness in the NBA isn’t just about peak performance, it’s about sustaining that level for years. For now, the Thunder will try to keep momentum going into Game 5 on June 16 against the Pacers.
