Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already established himself as the face of the OKC Thunder’s rise. The MVP noise is there for a second time, sure. But it’s also his effortless dominance and unreal efficiency that really stick. It is the kind that makes you pause mid-game. Therefore, when someone like Steve Nash calls it “Jordanesque,” with LeBron James right there agreeing, it suddenly feels even bigger.

“I would say my favorite for MVP is Shai, and just the totality of the season, the efficiency. He’s a good defender. Yeah. I think he’s a great leader. His efficiency is Jordanesque,” Nash said on the Mind the Game podcast. Amidst a series of conversations, the 2005, 2006 MVP mentioned that players have tough nights where they just have to keep shooting.

To this, James said, “We all have our nights where we don’t shoot to our capabilities. That just comes with the game. But yeah, that’s one of the things I love about Shai.” He further went on, ” just for him to play on the perimeter as much as he does, playing at mid range as much as he does, and still be as super efficient as he is. Like you said, it’s Jordan for sure. Michael Jordan, in a slightly different way, numbers in a slightly different way.”

Michael Jordan and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander belong to two completely different eras of balling. Yet, when names like LeBron James and Steve Nash draw comparisons, or rather give the ultimate praise to the rising star, it truly turns heads. Now, let’s look into the stats:

Meanwhile, Nash continued, “The accuracy and efficiency is crazy. The body control, his stop-start, change direction. This might sound weird, but I noticed his spine mobility is crazy, one, to slither into gaps; two, to finish in situations.”

According to the 2-time MVP, SGA is so good that the Thunder can simplify everything around him. They space the floor and let him take control, which puts huge pressure on one player, yet he still delivers with elite efficiency.

He also credits the coaching, trusting Shai’s brilliance instead of overcomplicating things, and forcing opponents to adjust first. Then, LeBron James chipped in:

“Every time you look at the efficiency, you look at the box scores, and you see Shai, 38, it’s like 13 for 17 from the floor. The night he had 40 something, I think it was like 15 for 19.”

Then drawing a comparison with himself, the 41-year-old added, “That’s one of my favorite things about players. That’s how I am. I love efficient players who can go out, do things on the floor, be efficient, not take too many bad shots. If you get on a heater, you want to take a heat check or two, I get it.”

What else did they say about SGA?

• Not explosive lift, but tricky, herky jerky movement with elite control and pace
• Dominant left-hand scorer who manipulates defenders with hesitation and angles
• Elite footwork, stop on a dime ability, and an advanced dribble package
• Reads defenders instantly, attacks weight shifts, and creates separation with strength
• Has counters for everything, spin, step back, foul drawing, scoring both directions
• Extremely efficient despite high usage, making his overall season stand out as elite

All of these qualities and more make the 27-year-old Canadian point guard a true MVP candidate. And his stats this season only confirm his place in the elite race.

This isn’t casual praise. It’s the kind of generational baton-passing that has historically signaled the arrival of a transformative star.

To understand the true weight of LeBron’s words, look back to the 1980s, when the league’s established giants first laid eyes on a young Michael Jordan.

In his second season (1985-86), after returning from a foot injury, a 23-year-old Jordan dropped a playoff-record 63 points on the Boston Celtics in a double-overtime loss. Larry Bird, the two-time defending MVP and cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty, delivered one of the most famous tributes in NBA history:

“That wasn’t Michael Jordan out there. That was God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

Bird later expanded on Jordan’s all-around brilliance, acknowledging that the young star could “beat you in a lot of different ways” — mentally, physically, defensively, and as a scorer. Magic Johnson echoed similar awe as the Lakers’ dynasty began facing the rising Bulls threat.

These weren’t throwaway lines from broadcasters. They were future Hall of Famers, at or near their peaks, publicly acknowledging that a young phenom was operating on a plane they hadn’t seen before. The praise helped frame Jordan not just as a scorer but as a singular force who would redefine the league over the next decade.

Fast-forward to 2026: LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer and a four-time MVP with over 20 seasons of dominance, is doing the same for 27-year-old SGA. LeBron isn’t prone to loose hyperbole when discussing efficiency and craft.

His emphasis on SGA playing “on the perimeter as much as he does, playing at mid-range as much as he does, and still be as super efficient as he is” mirrors how Bird and Magic spotlighted Jordan’s transcendent impact.

LeBron has historically been selective with direct Jordan-level nods for active or rising players. While he’s addressed his own comparisons to MJ countless times (often deflecting to carve his own legacy), this kind of specific “Jordan for sure… in a slightly different way” praise remains exceptionally rare.

SGA now joins a very short list of players drawing that thread from the King.

SGA for MVP again?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken complete control of the MVP race. His odds jumped from -600 to a massive -2000 since Friday, leaving Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic trailing. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury ruled him out for the regular season, wiping him off betting boards.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps’ final straw poll showed SGA taking 88 first-place votes, while no one else crossed eight.

As you can guess, the gap is widening in the race. Wemby slipped to +900 after the Spurs fell to Jokic and the Nuggets, now sitting three games behind the OKC Thunder with four left. Jokic stands at +7500, while Jaylen Brown lags at +30000.

Meanwhile, SGA’s numbers tell the story. He’s averaging 31.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, shooting 55.2% from the field and 38.3% from three. Add 62 wins and OKC holding the league’s top spot despite Jalen Williams missing most of the season, and the race feels all but decided.