Game respects game. That’s a timeless adage that’s been around basketball longer than the 3-point line. As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made it undeniable he’s on the pathway to all-time greatness, he’s finally getting his due from NBA legends from previous eras.

Netflix producers lucked out with Gilgeous-Alexander. He was the top billing name in their ‘Starting 5’ series. The show’s second season saw him have one of the greatest individual seasons ever with an MVP, NBA Finals MVP and a championship ring.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder captured the NBA championship after a historic 68-14 regular season featured blowouts every other night. As they advanced with each playoff series win, the camera crew morphed into pseudo-fans. After all, nothing juicier than a ring for storyline purposes.

Sprinkled throughout the eight-episode season, commentators made up of top NBA media personalities and former players offered their insights. One was Paul Pierce. And the Hall-of-Famer went out of his way to compliment Gilgeous-Alexander and his scoring profile.

“He’s like Kobe lowkey,” Pierce said. “I know that sounds crazy, but it’s just like — he’s shifty, he gets to that mid-range. He’s got footwork, pump-fakes. Man, I’m telling you — Kobe.”

Dare I say, he’s not too far off? Just purely from an aesthetic perspective. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Bryant are mid-range maestros. They love to drive downhill and force defenders to foul them. Their pull-up jumpers might be some of the most lethal shots in their respective eras.

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Gilgeous-Alexander has had three straight superb-efficient 30-plus point campaigns. He won the MVP award after finishing in the top five votes in the previous two seasons. While he’s had one of the more improbable superstar ascensions, the entire NBA world now knows how special a player he is.

That includes Pierce — who had his fair share of battles against Bryant. Specifically in the 2010 NBA Finals, when his Boston Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA Hall-of-Famer on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: ‘He’s like Kobe lowkey’