▪ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be a talented basketball player during his one season at Kentucky (2017-18). I’m not sure we knew how good he would be in the NBA. During the playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard is showing to be one of the best players in the world.
Gilgeous-Alexander was averaging 29.5 points per game in the playoffs heading into Game 5 of the Oklahoma City-Dallas series on Wednesday night. He has scored 30 or more points in each of the Thunder’s last three games, including 33 last Thursday, 31 on Saturday, and 34 Monday night in OKC’s 100-96 triumph that tied the series 2-2. The 6-foot-6 guard from Canada has averaged 31.4 and 30.1 points per game over the past two regular seasons. In 2023-24, he averaged 6.2 assists while shooting 53.5% from the floor. Both were career bests. By the way, as a Kentucky Wildcat, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game for a John Calipari squad that advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to Kansas State in Atlanta.
If TNT loses the broadcast rights to the NBA playoffs, the “Inside the NBA” show with Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith will end. ▪ If you haven’t admired Mark Pope’s work so far, you haven’t been paying attention. People are paying attention.
Kentucky basketball’s new coach has assembled a team from scratch, with the goal of adding a few more key players. He has also been energetic and upbeat in his responses to various media interviews. He has been exactly what those who know him expected him to be. Pope informed CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein that he intends to use all 13 scholarships. Meanwhile, former Kentucky coach John Calipari believes he may only use eight or nine scholarships in his new job in Arkansas. ▪ With Muth out of the Preakness because to a fever, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan could have a good chance in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
