When most teams think defense in today’s NBA, the formula is simple: protect the rim, force contested threes, and eliminate easy looks. But what happens when a star refuses to play by those rules?
Enter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While the rest of the league fires away from beyond the arc, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard is thriving with an old-school weapon: the mid-range jumper. In Sunday’s Game 4 win against the Denver Nuggets, SGA delivered a clinic in patience and precision, scoring 25 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, without making a single three.
Defenders gave him space outside, closed off the paint, and yet he still found a way to carve them up with floaters, pull-ups, and mid-range daggers.
LeBron sees it, and he’s not surprised
On a recent episode of Mind the Game, LeBron James discussed SGA’s approach with Steve Nash and revealed why it’s so effective, and so maddening. “It gets frustrating,” James admitted. “You’re doing everything right. You’re defending the rim, running shooters off the line, and then he just kills you from 17 feet.”
James pointed out that while most fans think the mid-range is extinct, it’s actually what separates good scorers from great creators. He compared SGA’s footwork and control to legends like Dirk Nowitzki, who made a career punishing defenders from spots most players now avoid.
The overlooked advantage in a three-point world
According to LeBron, the modern obsession with threes has created a blind spot. Teams are built to stop drives and defend the arc, but they’re not equipped to handle someone who lives in the in-between.
During the regular season, SGA shot 50% from mid-range, a stark contrast to his 37.5% from deep. That efficiency, combined with his ability to draw contact and create space, makes him one of the most difficult covers in the league, especially in close playoff games where every possession counts.
The message for the final eight
As the postseason tightens, James believes teams need to reconsider what “efficient offense” really looks like. If the remaining playoff contenders don’t adjust, they might find themselves staring at another 92-87 loss, just like Denver did, while SGA calmly pulls up for another 17-footer.
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