Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as one of the NBA’s best, proving his dominance with the 2024-2025 MVP title. Yet, despite his success, one lingering regret remains-the Thunder star never got the chance to meet his childhood idol, Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers icon, was still alive during Gilgeous-Alexander’s rookie season with the Clippers in 2018-2019. At the time, SGA was just starting his career, likely flying under Kobe’s radar.
By his second year in the league, Gilgeous-Alexander was beginning to shine when tragedy struck-Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. In a recent interview, SGA opened up about how Bryant shaped his early basketball dreams, calling him his favorite player.
Kobe was Shai’s inspiration
Ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on Bryant’s influence: “Probably my favorite player of all time. I never had the chance to meet him. His influence has gone through the roof, and his legacy will be remembered forever.”
SGA’s playing style has drawn comparisons to his childhood idol. Over 20 seasons with the Lakers, Kobe averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Meanwhile, through seven professional seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander has posted 24.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game-numbers eerily close to Bryant’s.
Heartbreaking Game 1 loss
Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers was one of SGA’s best playoff performances. He put up 38 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but his heroics weren’t enough to secure the win. Instead, Tyrese Haliburton sealed the game with a stunning buzzer-beater.
Reflecting on the moment, Gilgeous-Alexander recalled: “It happened so fast. He got down doing right, pulled up from the middle, and knocked down the shot. I don’t know, it didn’t feel like anything crazy. He just made a play with time winding down.”
The Thunder now face an uphill battle. With a 1-0 series lead, the Pacers have secured at least three games in Indiana-where they’ve been nearly unbeatable all season. If OKC hopes to turn things around, they’ll need to find a way to close out games.
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