Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became one of the brightest stars in the NBA. He led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 2025 NBA Finals and achieved the league’s Most Valuable Player honor. Shai reached superstar status with 64 wins in the regular season and impressive averages of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. Lately, however, the buzz is not just about his numbers; fans and analysts now compare him to Kobe Bryant.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Game 2 of the NBA finals, Gilgeous-Alexander responded to the comparison directly. “That’s probably my favorite player of all time. I never got the chance to meet him, but for kids worldwide, his influence has gone through the roof because of the competitor and the basketball player he was. Hopefully, I’m somewhere close to that level as a basketball player one day,” he said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on watching film of Kobe Bryant and his impact on his game:
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 7, 2025
“That’s probably my favorite player of all time. I never got the chance to meet him… but not only me, for kids all across the world, his influence has gone through the roof because of the… pic.twitter.com/q9L90Mfx0r
”Yeah, there are a lot of similarities there,” it’s a lot of similarities. It’s cool that he can pick certain aspects of his game, mimic that a little, and add his touch,” SGA added.
Jalen Williams also acknowledged the resemblance. While the comparisons may feel bold, they’re not baseless. Gilgeous-Alexander developed a game built on precision, patience, and mastery of mid-range scoring areas, where Bryant diminished for years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Mirrors Kobe Bryant, Adding His Touch
A viral clip recently made waves on social media. It showed side-by-side comparisons of Shai and Bryant performing near identical offensive moves. From turnaround fades to footwork-heavy isolation shots, the clips sent fans into a frenzy.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Shai is literally the closest thing to Kobe we've seen pic.twitter.com/a9VMcWJS3k
— * (@wwdvn) May 21, 2025
What sets Shai apart is how seamlessly he blends inspiration with originality. He is not just copying moves; he is evolving them. That balance of tribute and innovation may remain exactly what makes the comparison to Bryant so compelling.
He’s not trying to be the next Kobe Bryant; he is becoming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with shades of a legend.
Also Read: Did The Pacers Just Crack The Code On Slowing Down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
