If you binge-watched Netflix’s ‘Starting 5’ series, you had the chance to see a side of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander normally known shown under the bright lights. You don’t want to call the MVP and NBA champion cocky, but he was strongly confident throughout last season.

One of the best anecdotes from the eight-episode season happened at Gilgeous-Alexander’s home. Preparing for the NBA playoffs, he told his family that he views a 30-point game as a bad game for himself. Puzzled by this thought, his wife, Hailey Summers, asked for a justification.

Gilgeous-Alexander said 30 points is below his average. Since he averaged an NBA-best 32.7 points last season, that’s technically true. But I mean, c’mon… 30 points is a bad game? That just sounds arrogant to the rest of the league.

Well, Gilgeous-Alexander can back it up. Arrogance turns into the truth. As he sleepwalked his way to 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting in three quarters before he sat out the remainder of the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s 117-100 win over the Atlanta Hawks, that scene popped up in my mind.

Minimal free throws were needed this time around. Gilgeous-Alexander got to his mid-range spots. Dyson Daniels looked like a G Leaguer. His cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker was treated like a little brother. No amount of Atlanta defenders could stop him.

When asked what it took for Gilgeous-Alexander to reach this level of being an all-time scorer, he said the Thunder’s rebuild gave him plenty of runway to figure things out. From 2020-22, they went 22-50 and 24-58 in back-to-back seasons.

“I watched a lot of the great players before. See how they get open. Guys of my frame and stature. Kobe Bryant for example,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Essentially, I figured it out in my time in the NBA. I had the luxury of when we were going through those years where we weren’t the greatest team in the league. I got to play through mistakes and figure out my game. Figure out what it’s going to look like when we’re good. I used that time correctly. Figured it out and now it works for me.”

It’s interesting to hear Gilgeous-Alexander reflect on his growth. His NBA superstar rise is one of the more unlikely journeys in league history. Heck, when he was traded to OKC, he wasn’t even the headliner. To see him ascend as an MVP winner and one of the best scorers ever is the main reason why the Thunder are where they are.