Sam Presti’s process has paid off for the Thunder as they now reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could become the first MVP since Stephen Curry in 2015 to win the regular season MVP and the NBA championship. After their Game 4 win over the Timberwolves, Jeff Teague, a former NBA player, claimed Gilgeous-Alexander has saved the NBA with his mid-range shots.
“I want to say something about SGA,” Teague said. “I think SGA saved the NBA. I’m not saying it because of how he performs, but the way he plays.”
“He saved the NBA because it’s a copycat league, and he perfected the midrange game. So he brought back the ability to shoot the midrange shots. It was either a three or a layup. I got crucified in Minnesota for shooting midrange shots.”
“Him being the MVP, and his go-to shot is a midrange, he literally just saved the NBA. That’s a shot that, if you can perfect it, you’re always going to get a good shot. Defenses are made for you to take that shot, and he perfected it. It looks crazy because you let him get to his bread and butter, and he’s scoring at will.”
“He made it acceptable again because even though his game is very smooth, he’s not the most entertaining person, but if you watch basketball, you’re like, ‘How is he so effective?'”
“It’s all based on his ability to get to the midrange. So now other people watching know they’ve got to be a three-level scorer because they’ve got to be able to get a good shot every time.”
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 57.08% from the two-point range (697 of 1221), including mid-range shots and finishes at the rim (layups or dunks) in the regular season. Teague is right to the extent that Gilgeous-Alexander saved the mid-range shot from dying as a trend among the new generation of basketball players, but not the league as a whole.
What LeBron James Said About Gilgeous-Alexander’s Mid-Range Game
LeBron James went on his podcast ‘Mind the Game’ with Steve Nash last week and claimed shot creators like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have helped burst the myth that mid-range shots are dead as an offensive option for teams in the modern NBA.
“The (shot) creators in our game have always worked on mid-ranges,” James said. “The common fan will say there are no mid-ranges in our game. It’s just fastbreaks, layups, threes, and free throws. But that’s just absolutely not true.”
His mid-range game has helped him average 30+ points for the third regular season in a row. 31.4 points per game in 2022-23, 30.1 points per game in 2023-24, and 32.7 points per game this season. He also earned the Michael Jordan MVP Award for his performance in 2024-25 and the Magic Johnson West Finals MVP award for his performance in the series against the Timberwolves.
It is becoming clear that the league is recognizing Gilgeous-Alexander, and with his rising fame, he will become a role model for more young players to emulate.
