Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Covers SLAM 254

SLAM: You’re at the moment the frontrunner to win MVP this season—in accordance with Vegas odds, in accordance with the media, and so forth. How a lot do you take note of stuff like that, and the way huge of a aim is it for you?  

SGA: It’s one other blessing. So many issues [happened] from then to now for me to get right here. A few of it’s luck, a few of it’s serving to arms, a few of it’s laborious work. Loads of stars should align and issues have for me, and I’m tremendous blessed for that. The sensation is superb. Clearly, nothing is gained in January, clearly. However to be enjoying on the stage that I’m, to be acknowledged, to my crew successful—issues are clearly getting into the fitting path. I haven’t reached any of my objectives but, so I’m not happy. I’ve much more to perform. The work gained’t cease. However yeah, headed down the fitting path, for positive.  

SLAM: Anthony Edwards made a remark not too long ago that you simply have been the clear-cut MVP this season and may’ve been the MVP final season. What’s it like having different star gamers provide you with that sort of reward?  
SGA: Your friends do it at a excessive stage. They perceive the grind it takes, perceive the each day. No one understands greater than them. To me, their opinion holds probably the most weight as a result of they do the very same factor that I do on the identical stage and perceive what it takes. So it’s a superb feeling.  

SLAM: Do you agree along with his assertion that you must’ve gained final yr?

SGA: Umm, I don’t actually care about [not winning it last year] a lot. It’s one thing I can’t management. I can’t management votes. I attempted to provide final yr my all, tried to be the very best model of myself. And I assume that wasn’t sufficient. So, my mindset within the summertime was to attempt to ensure that this yr it was sufficient.  

SLAM: There are folks on-line who examine you to Allen Iverson. Have you ever seen these comparisons?  

SGA: I haven’t heard these, however I strive to not get into social media and scouring via social media whereas I’m going via the season. However that’s an incredible feeling as effectively. Allen Iverson was, like, my favourite basketball participant rising up—the rationale why I had braids as a child, wore a headscarf, the rationale why I began enjoying basketball. So, it’s a cool feeling. The issues he’s achieved for the sport, for the tradition—on and off the court docket—are second to none. In order that’s fairly cool.  

SLAM: Did you examine his recreation if you have been rising up?  

SGA: I by no means actually studied a lot of his recreation, simply ’trigger I used to be youthful and I simply wasn’t learning [yet]. I used to be simply watching as a fan. However one thing that stood out about him was his supreme confidence. On the court docket, he performed the identical method. His confidence by no means wavered. Good shot, dangerous shot. He made 4 in a row, 5 in a row. He at all times performed the identical method. Performed laborious. And off the court docket, he clearly had the utmost confidence in his trend. His swag. A narrative that at all times caught with me was him taking fines to put on matches. That’s at all times one thing that stood out to me. He at all times made positive he did it his method, and he went out swinging.

SLAM: You talked about there’s nonetheless much more to perform. What does that checklist of objectives appear like?  

SGA: My largest factor is, I simply need to win a championship. That’s why you play the sport. Once I was in ninth grade and tried out for the crew, I wished to win a metropolis championship. I at all times simply need to win—on the largest and highest stage of basketball on this planet. That’s my important and solely focus. All I actually care about. If I get that sooner or later, I’ll be all proper.  

SLAM: You have been reduce out of your JV crew in ninth grade; how a lot did that impression the best way you went about pursuing basketball?  

SGA: I used it as motivation. I by no means sulked or was down dangerous about it or was in my emotions about it. I simply took it as, I wasn’t adequate. I believed I used to be adequate; clearly I wasn’t. I wished to ensure that I by no means had that feeling once more. And I feel I did a fairly good job at that.