Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named to the 2023-24 NBA First All-Star Team

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (All Pro Reels, Wikimedia Commons)

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Toronto, Ontario was named to the National Basketball Association First All-Star team on Wednesday. This is the second time in his career he has received the honour. He was previously selected to the 2022-23 NBA First All-Star Team.

In 75 games this past season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points per game, and 5.5 rebounds per game. He had career-highs in assists per game (6.2), steals per game (two), and field goal percentage (.535). Gilgeous-Alexander also had a three-point percentage of .353, and a free throw percentage of .874. He also led the NBA in free throws made (567), and steals (150).

Gilgeous-Alexander was also a finalist for the 2024 National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award. He lost out to Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.

The Thunder also saw a significant rise this past season in the NBA standings. They went from a record of 40 wins and 42 losses in 2022-23, to a record of 57 wins and 25 losses, and the best record in the Western Conference. That was a 17-win improvement from the year before and moved the Thunder from 10th to first.

Gilgeous-Alexander is the second Canadian in NBA history to be named to the NBA First All-Star Team. Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash of Victoria, British Columbia was honoured three straight years from 2004-05 to 2006-07.

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