NBA Thanksgiving 2019: What each team has to be thankful for

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ready for the spotlight

Chris Paul and the Oklahoma City Thunder hardly look like dark horse playoff contenders after all, but that’s perfectly fine; everyone knows this team is all about the future, when CP3 and Danilo Gallinari‘s contracts are off the books and all those extra draft picks from the Paul George and Russell Westbrook trades start rolling in.

In the meantime, however, it’s incredibly encouraging that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks capable of taking Paul’s mantle when the time comes. In his first season in OKC, and just his second in the league, SGA is averaging 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on .455/.403/.797 shooting splits.

The assist numbers will come up in time, especially once he’s no longer sharing the ball with CP3 in the same backcourt. But for now, it’s very reassuring the Thunder have a future franchise player who’s already asserting himself in the present.