'Hopefully I'm somewhere close' — MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander channels Kobe Bryant's legacy in his defining 2025 NBA Finals moment
Image via Jesse D. Garrabrant and Andrew D. Bernstein/ Getty Images
When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steps onto the court, there's a quiet intensity that mirrors a familiar figure from NBA lore. With a scoring title, MVP trophy, and a deep playoff run under his belt, the Oklahoma City Thunder star has risen to the top of the league.
But behind the accolades lies a poignant truth—SGA never got to meet his basketball idol,
Kobe Bryant
. And now, in the 2025 NBA Finals, he's doing everything he can to honor that legacy, one game at a time.
From idol to inspiration: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walks the path Kobe Bryant paved
Before Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals tipped off in Oklahoma City,
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
spoke candidly about the player who shaped his game from afar. 'Probably my favorite player of all time. I never had the chance to meet him,' SGA said on Saturday, referencing the late
Kobe Bryant
.
'His influence has gone through the roof, and his legacy will be remembered forever.'
— TomerAzarly (@TomerAzarly)
T
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he two never crossed paths. Back in 2018–2019, during Shai's rookie season, Kobe was still alive, but Gilgeous-Alexander was just emerging in the league. When Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, SGA was entering his sophomore season, on the rise but still in the early stages of his NBA journey.
Despite never meeting, their games echo one another. Over two decades, Kobe averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. In comparison, through seven seasons, Shai is putting up 24.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists—eerily close numbers. His polished midrange game, foul-drawing craft, and obsessive work ethic have led teammates and fans alike to see the shades of Kobe in his play.
'There are a lot of similarities there,' Thunder teammate Jalen Williams said during media availability on Saturday.
'If you are really paying attention to basketball & watch the way he plays. He can pick certain aspects of [Kobe's] game and add his own touch to it.'
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander channels
Mamba mentality
as Oklahoma City Thunder chase the NBA title
On Thursday night in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered one of his best postseason performances yet, dropping 38 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Game 1. But the Thunder's hopes were dashed by a buzzer-beating dagger from Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
'It happened so fast,' SGA said postgame. 'He got down doing right, pulled up from the middle, and knocked down the shot. I don't know, it didn't feel like anything crazy. He just made a play with time winding down.'
With the Pacers now up 1–0 in the series and Game 2 still set to take place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City before the series shifts to Indiana, Oklahoma City faces a daunting challenge. Yet, the kind of adversity demands the 'Mamba Mentality'—the same mindset Shai has tried to embody his entire career.
His stats this season are Kobe-esque: 32.7 points per game (led the league), MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP honors, and 72 straight games scoring 20 or more. He's four wins from completing a feat not achieved since
Shaquille O'Neal
in 2000—winning a scoring title and NBA championship in the same season.
The spirit of Kobe isn't just alive in highlight reels. It's active—alive—in the smooth rhythm of SGA's footwork, in his patient fadeaways, and in his drive for greatness.
Also Read:
NFL star Tom Brady picks Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant among his favourite NBA stars
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may never have spoken to Kobe Bryant, but through his style, grit, and ambition, he's building a legacy that reflects the very player who inspired it all. 'Hopefully I'm somewhere close to that as a basketball player one day,' he said. The who was Kobe, the where is Oklahoma City, and the when… is right now.
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