Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “I’m the best player in the NBA”
Two MVPs, an NBA title and plenty of controversy over the fouls he draws: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander responds to the critics and explains why he considers himself No. 1
Who is the best player in the NBA today? Jokic, Doncic, Wembanyama? If you ask Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, you can safely cross all of those names off the list. The Canadian has a different answer, and above all, a very clear one.
In an interview with TIME, SGA explained why he believes he is currently the best player in the league, pointing to his numbers, efficiency and results.
I think I’m the best player in the NBA. I think what I produce game after game is what you would expect from the best player in the league, and so is the efficiency I do it with. Anyone who starts playing basketball, soccer, football or tennis does it to win. And over the last few years, I think I’ve won enough
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
It is difficult to ignore his résumé. After leading OKC to the 2025 championship, finishing the season averaging 32.7 points and also winning Finals MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander added a second consecutive MVP award to his trophy case.
At 28 years old, he can already boast an NBA championship, two regular-season MVPs, a Finals MVP and a scoring title. Those accomplishments help explain the confidence with which he talks about his place in the league hierarchy.
Shai the “foul merchant”
Despite all the success, SGA remains one of the most debated players in the NBA, especially because of his ability to earn trips to the free-throw line.
During the 2025/26 season, he attempted 614 free throws, about 9 per game, making 540 of them at an 87.9% clip. Those numbers fuel criticism from those who consider him a foul merchant, meaning a player who systematically seeks contact to draw fouls.
Between accusations of flopping, statistical analysis and chants of “flopper,” Shai has grown used to living with that reputation. And apparently, it does not bother him much.
Basketball has done incredible things for my life and my family’s life. If the worst thing I get from this sport is a certain narrative on social media, I’d take that a million times out of a million
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Whether you like his style of play or not, the results are difficult to argue with. And if anyone thinks Shai does not deserve a seat at the table with the league’s best players, they will probably need to come up with a more convincing argument than his trips to the free-throw line.