Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder is likely one of the most explosive gamers within the NBA and the league’s reigning MVP.
However that doesn’t imply he’s unstoppable.
In truth, at occasions throughout the present NBA Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander has appeared all too human.
In accordance with Evan Sidery, Gilgeous-Alexander is taking pictures simply 35.3 p.c within the Finals when guarded by both Andrew Nembhard or Aaron Nesmith.
When Nembhard is on him, Gilgeous-Alexander is taking pictures 7-of-20, or 35 p.c, with 5 turnovers.
And when it’s Nesmith blocking, Gilgeous-Alexander is taking pictures 5-of-14, or 35.7 p.c, with two turnovers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is taking pictures 35.3% within the NBA Finals when guarded by Andrew Nembhard or Aaron Nesmith:
Nembhard: 7-for-20 (35%) + 5 turnovers
Nesmith: 5-for-14 (35.7%) + 2 turnoversIndiana’s prime two defenders are making it very robust on SGA. pic.twitter.com/m0fsBicZAB
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 12, 2025
These two Indiana Pacers gamers have been getting a whole lot of consideration currently, principally due to how suffocating their protection has been.
They’ve been electrical in some ways, from their pace to their power, however it’s the protection that has been doing probably the most work.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a sensational shooter, and he can discover a number of methods to attain.
He’s nice along with his personal photographs, with assists, and with drawing fouls.
He has nonetheless made fairly an affect on this collection, however it could have been loads bigger if it weren’t for Nembhard and Nesmith.
Now, the query is that if these two can stick with it for the remainder of the Finals.
The Thunder will, in fact, maintain counting on Gilgeous-Alexander as a lot as they will, and if Nembhard and Nesmith proceed to push laborious on him, their probabilities of profitable the chip will go down.
That is fairly the duty and a really troublesome problem, however thus far, Nembhard and Nesmith have proven they’re up for it.
NEXT: Magic Johnson Reveals What Pacers Did To Restrict Shai Gilgeous-Alexander