In today's NBA league, three-point shooting and fast-paced offense have become mainstream, but there is one player who, with his retro style of play and excellent individual ability, has bucked the current in the small-ball era and become a breath of fresh air in the league. He is the star of the Oklahoma City Thunder - Alexander.
Alexander's rise was the result of the Thunder's patient waiting. In 2019, he was sent to Oklahoma in the George trade, which was his rookie season, averaging only 10.8 points and 3.3 assists per game, and in his first season with the Thunder, his stats soared to 19 points and 3.3 assists, and now in his fifth year, this season, Alexander averaged 34 minutes per game, contributing 30.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.1 steals, of which he ranked third in the league in points per game and first in the league in steals per game.
He shot 53.9 percent overall, 37 percent from three-point range, and 63.8 percent from the field. Behind these stats is Alexander's unique way of scoring, which prefers to break down opposition defences with accurate mid-range shots and sharp breakaways.
In his recent game against the Kings, Alexander showed his leadership qualities and scoring ability. Faced with a 19-point deficit at halftime, he led the team to launch a counterattack in the third quarter, and in the final quarter he helped the team achieve a big comeback through breakthroughs and free throws. In the whole game, Alexander only made 3 three-pointers, and the remaining 18 shots came from breakouts and mid-range shots, and finally slashed 40 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, proving that he can be a scoring weapon for the team even if he does not rely on three-point shots.
So far this season, Alexander has scored at least 30+ points in 50 games, surpassing Kevin Durant's record of 47 and becoming the most 30+ points in a single game in a single season in Thunder history. His scoring efficiency and consistency make him unique in the league and a retrograde in the small-ball era.
Alexander, who is 1.98 meters tall, has a unique body advantage as a point guard. Not only did he excel on the offensive end, but he was also not to be underestimated on the defensive end, becoming one of the few offensive and defensive defenders in the league. While it remains to be seen whether he can become an MVP-caliber superstar in the future, it is certain that the Thunder's rise has become inevitable under Alexander's leadership.