Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s natural confidence seems to be an inherited trait based on the latest clip from his dad, Vaughn. In a recent guest appearance on the ‘Club 520’ podcast, the NBA father made a shocking statement on his alleged ability to create the best NBA prospects.
“Just give me your girl and I’ll breed her,” said Vaughn. “Guarantee you, if she has my genes, he’ll be a f**king great player.”
In the past, we rarely saw or heard from the families of NBA superstars, but circumstances have changed in the modern age. Nowadays, we frequently hear from NBA dads and partners on various platforms. In just the past year, several NBA dads have gone viral for their statements, including LaVar Ball, Tee Morant, and John Haliburton.
In the case of Vaughn Alexander, however, this is the first time making waves like this, but it’s for all the wrong reasons. On social media, many fans called him out for his comments on women and deemed the quote about breeding them as highly inappropriate.
The 55-year-old may have only meant it as a joke, but it was done in poor taste, given that it was directed at Jeff Teague, who is currently married to Paola Gomez. Many fans explained how it was disrespectful to her and set a bad example for their young daughter, Isabella.
Vaughn Alexander never played in the NBA himself, but he does have playing experience in the 90s, where he won a championship for Georges Vanier Secondary School. In 1998, he fathered Shai and has been striving for his success ever since.
So when the basketball phenom began his rise to NBA stardom, Vaughn was right there to support his son every step of the way, cheering him on with pride and knowing that he played a part in Shai’s success. Still, not even Vaughn saw an MVP in his son’s future, and receiving that accolade brought this legacy to another level.
In the 2024-25 campaign, SGA had his best year yet with averages of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 51.9% shooting. He was obviously on the MVP, but that was just the start of his historic season.
In the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander has continued his greatness with averages of 30.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 19 games so far. He’s led the Thunder to a 13-6 record with a chance to win their first championship in franchise history. In many ways, it’s been an impressive run for Shai, and at 26 years old, he’s only getting started on the best years of his career.
No matter what happens, we know that Vaughn will be there to root for his son every step of the way, and it seems he also likes to take credit for contributing the genes that allow for his greatness. But to ultimately silence the critics and maximize this period of success, it’ll be up to Shai to lead the way and play good enough to carry his team to victory. Fortunately, he doesn’t lack confidence that he can rise to the occasion.
