Shai Gilgeous-Alexander opened up about how he never got to meet his childhood idol, Kobe Bryant. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best basketball players in the world right now and has proven his dominance after winning this season’s NBA MVP. The OKC Thunder star has Kobe to thank for his inspiration to get to the top of his craft. Unfortunately for SGA, he never had the chance to meet him.
During Gilgeous-Alexander’s rookie year with the LA Clippers in the 2018-19 season, Bryant was still alive. However, Shai was still making a name for himself at the time, which meant that he probably wasn’t on Kobe’s radar. In his sophomore year, he began building up his reputation with the OKC Thunder, helping his new team secure the fifth seed in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Sadly, Kobe Bryant passed away on January 26, 2020, just when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was transforming into a star. Fast forward to the present day, Shai opened up about how Kobe became his favorite player, how he never got to meet him and how he impacted him growing up.
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“Probably my favorite player of all time," Gilgeous-Alexander said during the postgame press conference of Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Never had the chance to meet him. .. His influence has gone through the roof and his legacy will be remembered forever."
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander opens up about Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner
The Indiana Pacers shocked the basketball world once again after Tyrese Haliburton knocked down a game-winning mid-range jumper to seal a 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. What made the loss more devastating was the fact that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up an impeccable performance that game.
Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 38 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, leading everyone in the game in scoring. Despite his dominance, the Pacers refused to back down, trading baskets with the reigning MVP. Ultimately, Haliburton found his spot and went for the game-winning dagger.
SGA gave his reaction to what happened during the final seconds of Game 1.
"It happened so fast," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He got down doing right, pulled up from the mid, and knocked down the shot. I don’t know, it didn’t feel like anything crazy. He just made a play with the time winding down.”
The OKC Thunder still has a chance to even the series, holding a home-court advantage on Sunday. However, if the Indiana Pacers somehow secure another win, the Thunder could struggle to recover, especially considering how Games 3 and 4 will be held in Indiana.
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