Rivers predicted stardom for Hamilton's Gilgeous-Alexander, but says Thunder star has exceeded expectations

The Associated Press

· Posted: Mar 18, 2025 12:34 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

Doc Rivers says helium saw prima imaginable successful Shai Gilgeous-Alexander portion coaching him arsenic a rookie earlier the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to Oklahoma City.

But the seasoned manager concedes that Gilgeous-Alexander, of Hamilton, Ont., has drastically outperformed those expectations.

"I don't deliberation anybody successful the satellite saw this successful him," said Rivers, who coached the Clippers from 2013 to 2020. "We did deliberation helium was going to beryllium really, truly good. I thought helium was going to beryllium a star. I said it erstwhile we traded him. But to spot this, I don't deliberation anyone tin honestly accidental they knew helium was going to beryllium this special."

Rivers was speaking earlier his Milwaukee Bucks mislaid 121-105 to Gilgeous-Alexander's Western Conference-leading Thunder connected Sunday night.

The Clippers included Gilgeous-Alexander arsenic portion of the bundle to bring nine-time All-Star Paul George to Los Angeles successful the summertime of 2019. The acquisition of George helped the Clippers besides onshore Kawhi Leonard successful escaped bureau aft helium had conscionable led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA title.

At the clip of the trade, Gilgeous-Alexander was coming disconnected a rookie play successful which helium had averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds portion starting 73 games. The three-time All-Star took his crippled to different level with Oklahoma City and present is considered 1 of the apical candidates for this season's MVP grant on with Denver's Nikola Jokic.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is averaging an NBA-leading 33 points and has scored astatine slightest 20 points successful 62 consecutive games.

"I had him his rookie year, the 1 happening I loved astir him, the crippled has ne'er gone accelerated for him," Rivers said. "He's always been capable to play astatine a beauteous bully pace, and present he's conscionable getting amended astatine it."

He continued strengthening his MVP lawsuit this play by helping the Thunder triumph astatine Detroit and Milwaukee connected back-to-back nights.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points successful a 113-107 triumph astatine Detroit. He showed the diversification of his violative crippled Sunday by scoring 31 points contempt going zero for five from three-point range, the archetypal clip since Nov. 20 that helium had gone an full crippled without a three-pointer.

"He conscionable has large blend and recovered worldly successful the travel of the game," Thunder manager Mark Daigneault said. "He didn't, I think, play his champion violative crippled tonight, but inactive had a precise dependable hand."