LeBron James on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring: 'It’s Jordan-esque'

Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes up for a basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Game recognizes game. The adage proved true as a couple of basketball's greatest minds blushed over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's surgeon-esque approach to dissecting opposing defenses at all four scoring levels. He was even mentioned in the same sentence with an NBA deity.

LeBron James and Steve Nash recently sat down for a new episode of the 'Mind of the Game' podcast series. With an eye-popping six MVP trophies and 30 All-Star appearances combined between the two, their thoughts on the current state of the game are worth their value in gold and then some.

One of the topics covered was Gilgeous-Alexander. His improbable ascension into NBA superstardom has caught folks off guard. Even the biggest Thunder fans had zero idea he'd turn out to be an all-time legend who is well on his way to back-to-back MVP trophies.

Only a small group of people walking this planet and breathing air can relate to that. Two of those are James and Nash. Putting the final touches on arguably the greatest career in NBA history, James talked about what he's loved about Gilgeous-Alexander's game.

The key phrase in his answer? Efficiency.

"Every time you look at the efficiency, you look at the box scores and you see Shai's 38, it’s like 13-for-17 from the floor. The other night, I think he had 40-something. I think it was like 15-for-19," James said. "That’s one of my favorite things about players. That’s because of how I am. I love efficient players."

If anybody can appreciate being a superb-efficient scorer, it's James. He's been a walking 27-point machine his whole career. His one-for-one ability to get downhill and bulldoze his way through any NBA defense helped carve out one of the best careers ever.

In the final stages of his playing days, the 41-year-old can appreciate Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to be lethal at any spot from the floor — on drives to the rim; at the mid-range; from the outside; and getting to the free-throw line at will.

"You can go out, can do the things on the floor, be efficient, not taking too many bad shots. I mean, if you get on a heater and you want to take a heat check or two, I get it," James said. "We all have our nights where we don’t shoot to our capabilities. That just comes with the game."

Feels like conventional wisdom has mostly caught up to Gilgeous-Alexander's greatness. And even with his social media critics, I think history will look back on his time on the NBA throne fondly. The 2020s will be remembered as his era — just as the 2010s were Stephen Curry's and the 2000s were Kobe Bryant's.

If the Oklahoma City Thunder repeat their success from last year and become a back-to-back NBA champion, there'd be no denying Gilgeous-Alexander's place in all-time history. As he'd be well on his way to finish with a top-15 career at worst. James even uttered Michael Jordan's name in comparison.

"That’s one of the things I love about Shai. For him to play on the perimeter as much as he does, playing at mid-range as much as he does and still be as super efficient as he is," James said. "It’s Jordan-esque.”

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: LeBron James on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring: 'It’s Jordan-esque'