The Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2025-26 campaign has been flipped on its head, thanks to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves‘ injury situation. That means LeBron James will be tasked with leading the Lakers through at least the first round of the playoffs on his own, and it’s clear that is going to be easier said than done.
In order for Los Angeles to achieve its goal of winning a title, it is likely going to have to go through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder at some point down the line. Gilgeous-Alexander seems to be in line to win his second-straight MVP Award, and when discussing his individual play, James offered some extremely high praise of the Thunder guard.
LeBron James Compares Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Michael Jordan
For many years, James was one of the faces of the league, but he has witnessed a new era of players take that title from him in real time. At the front of that group is Gilgeous-Alexander, who has turned himself into one of the most ruthlessly efficient scorers in the league over the past few years with the Thunder.
After winning the MVP Award last season, Gilgeous-Alexander has authored quite the follow-up campaign (31.4 PPG, 6.5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 55.2 FG%). Despite relying heavily on his jumper, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most efficient scorers in the league, and he is the engine that powers Oklahoma City’s dominant offensive attack.
Gilgeous-Alexander is still only 27 years old, so there’s a chance he isn’t even at the peak of his powers yet. Still, James is a big fan of what he’s seen from the reigning MVP, and he even went as far as to compare his style of play to that of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, who, along with James, is widely considered the greatest player in the history of the league.
“For him to play on the perimeter as much as he does, playing at midrange as much as he does and still being super-efficient as he is. It’s Jordan-esque, for sure,” James said on “Mind The Game.”
LeBron James’ Michael Jordan Comparison for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Turns Heads
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
Comparing any player to Jordan (or James, for that matter) is something that cannot be done lightly. Jordan finished his career averaging 30.1 points per game, and for the most part, he got his buckets in the same manner as Gilgeous-Alexander, as he relentlessly drilled shots from the midrange. Gilgeous-Alexander shoots more threes than Jordan, but that’s due in large part to the differing eras of basketball these guys played in.
It may seem preposterous to compare anyone to Jordan, but if there’s a guy who embodies his style of play, it’s Gilgeous-Alexander. After winning his first title last year, Gilgeous-Alexander is going to look to begin to author his own dynasty with the Thunder, just like Jordan did with the Bulls. It will be up to James and the rest of the league, though, to ensure that doesn’t happen once the playoffs get underway later this month.
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