Picture this: Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The clock is winding down. Your team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, trails by a single point, their season hanging precariously. The ball is in the hands of the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He takes two hard dribbles to his left, creating space. A sudden, almost imperceptible, forearm shiver sends his defender, Aaron Nesmith, sprawling. As Pacers fans erupt in protest, Gilgeous-Alexander calmly gathers himself, steps back, and releases a baseline 15-footer. *Splash*. The net barely ripples. Oklahoma City takes the lead, a lead they wouldn`t relinquish, eventually tying the series.
This wasn`t a soaring dunk, nor a high-arching three-pointer. It was a midrange jumper – a shot often declared inefficient, even obsolete, in the modern, analytics-driven NBA. Yet, for Gilgeous-Alexander, it was the most critical shot of his career, a testament to his mastery of an art form many thought was lost to time.
The “Lost Art” Redefined
In an era where basketball analytics relentlessly push teams towards either high-percentage shots at the rim or the maximum-value three-point shot, the space between the paint and the arc has become a barren wasteland for many offensive schemes. Coaches preach spacing, shot charts glow red around the basket and beyond the arc, and the midrange jumper is often dismissed as a statistical inefficiency – a “bad shot” by algorithmic decree. It’s a pragmatic approach, certainly, but one that perhaps undervalues pure skill and offensive versatility.
Yet, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with an almost defiant grace, has turned this supposed inefficiency into his signature weapon. He`s not just taking midrange jumpers; he`s **owning** them, transforming them into high-percentage looks through a blend of physical prowess and intellectual precision. It`s a fascinating counter-narrative in a league increasingly homogenized by data.
The Architect of Mastery: Sam Cassell`s Vision
This remarkable proficiency wasn`t conjured overnight. The seeds of Gilgeous-Alexander`s midrange dominance were sown early in his career, during his rookie season with the LA Clippers. It was there, under the tutelage of assistant coach Sam Cassell, that the foundation was laid. Cassell, a former NBA guard himself, was renowned for his own midrange wizardry during his playing days – a player who knew the value of that precious 15-foot shot. He saw in the young Gilgeous-Alexander not just potential, but a canvas awaiting specific strokes.
“I gave Shai everything I had, everything in my bag,” Cassell reportedly told ESPN. “He`s just a bigger version of me — bigger and faster.”
Cassell`s philosophy was strikingly simple, yet profound in its foresight: “If this is the shot they’re giving, let’s be exceptional at this shot. Let’s be the only player in the league that can be exceptional at this shot since they’re giving it to you.” In a world clamoring for threes, Cassell pushed Gilgeous-Alexander to perfect what others neglected. And perfect it, he did.
The Master`s Toolkit: Anatomy of a Midrange Jumper
What makes Gilgeous-Alexander so devastatingly effective from this range? It`s a symphony of subtle movements, deceptive strength, and unparalleled spatial awareness. At 6-foot-6-and-a-half with a remarkable 6-foot-11-and-a-half wingspan, he possesses the inherent length to shoot over outstretched arms. But raw physical gifts are only part of the equation.
His wiry strength, often underestimated, allows him to create critical separation. As his teammate Alex Caruso aptly noted, “People don’t realize how strong he is. When he gets to 10 foot and he hits you with a big shoulder and spins off of you, it takes a toll on you.” This isn`t brute force; it`s calculated, precise contact that disrupts a defender`s balance without drawing an offensive foul. It`s an art of “mastering angles,” as Caruso put it – a series of pump-fakes, pivots, and shoulder bumps designed to bait defenders or carve out just enough room for his shot.
Combine this with an incredibly tight handle, honed to allow him to get anywhere on the court he desires, and you have an offensive package that is frustratingly unguardable. He`s never going “100 miles an hour,” as Caruso observes, but rather controls the pace, allowing him to counter any defensive move with fluid precision. He has multiple “sweet spots” on the floor, knowing precisely where to step back, where to fade, and where to elevate to maximize his chances.
Statistical Anomaly: Proving the Analytics Wrong
While analytics departments might initially cringe, the numbers, in Gilgeous-Alexander`s case, bend to his will. In the 2025 season, he led the league with 32.7 points per game on an astounding 51.9% shooting from the field. This marks his third consecutive season averaging over 30 points on better than 50% efficiency, placing him in an exclusive club alongside legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Adrian Dantley.
He ranked second only to DeMar DeRozan in 2-point jump shots made and attempted, but his efficiency on those shots (52.7%) trailed only Kevin Durant among players attempting at least 150 such jumpers. This isn`t a stylistic choice made for aesthetic appeal; it`s a cold, hard fact of offensive prowess. He, Durant, and Chris Paul are the only players since 2013-14 to log multiple seasons with at least 250 made 2-point jumpers at 50% shooting or better. In a game of percentages, Gilgeous-Alexander is proving that sometimes, the “bad shot” isn`t bad when wielded by a master.
The Mamba Mentality: A Nod to Inspiration
It`s no coincidence that Gilgeous-Alexander`s game bears distinct echoes of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Like many in his generation, Bryant was his idol, and SGA openly admits to meticulously studying the intricacies of the “Mamba`s” game. “The way he attacked the game is very impressive to me, and I just think he’s one of the most skilled players ever,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. This deliberate emulation underscores SGA’s dedication to a holistic offensive game, where every area of the court is a potential scoring zone, not just the statistically favorable ones.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s reign as the NBA’s midrange maestro isn`t merely a testament to individual skill; it`s a compelling counter-narrative in an analytics-driven league. While the three-point revolution continues to reshape basketball, SGA offers a refreshing reminder that true offensive mastery lies not just in conforming to statistical trends, but in expertly exploiting what defenses concede. He embodies the principle that if you are supremely skilled at something, its perceived inefficiency by general metrics becomes irrelevant.
In an era obsessed with efficiency, Gilgeous-Alexander has redefined it, proving that sometimes, the most effective path to victory is the one less traveled – especially if you`ve got the talent, dedication, and subtle brilliance to make it your own. His success with the midrange jumper isn`t just a nostalgic flicker of basketball`s past; it`s a powerful, compelling argument for its enduring relevance in the sport`s future.
