Report: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander next NBA player to land signature shoe deal
NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is about to land a major signature shoe deal. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Oklahoma City Thunder star and Kentucky Wildcats basketball alum is going to sneaker free agent in September.
“He’s with Converse right now,” Charania said on Fanduel TV. “His contract expires in September. Industry sources tell me he’s the next star in line to receive a signature shoe deal. There’s several companies he’s going to be in discussions with showing interest. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have a new shoe deal whether it’s at Converse or elsewhere, and he will get a signature shoe deal.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, has emerged as one of the best players in the NBA. He currently ranks third in the NBA in points per game (30.4) and leads the league in steals per contest (2.1). Gilgeous-Alexander has made the All-Star team the last two seasons and was named to the All-NBA First Team last year. He’s a big reason the Thunder have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becomes MVP candidate
In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about possibly being named NBA MVP this year. “It’s a surreal feeling,” he said. You dream about it as a kid. I certainly have, wanting to be in the NBA my whole life. It’s something that I try not to put too much thought or emphasis on and let the chips fall where they may, but it’s something that I definitely want. If I achieve it and am blessed enough to get the award, I’ll be very happy.”
As great as it would be for Gilgeous-Alexander to win NBA MVP. the goal for him is to get the Thunder to the NBA Finals and win a title. “We’re super focused on winning games,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Obviously with the top seed, we’d get home-court advantage the entire time we’re in the West in the playoffs. But for the most part, we’re just focused on taking it day-by-day and winning games. That would be some icing on the cake, for sure.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was selected No. 11 overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA Draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on the same day. He was trade to the Thunder in 2019 as part of a deal for Paul George. During his time at Kentucky, Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the All-SEC Freshmen Team and Second Team in 2018.