Thunder GM Presti: ”Shai will be a better player after playing at World Cup

OKLAHOMA CITY (USA) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be a better player thanks to his experience at the FIBA Basketball World Cup with Canada, according to Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti.

The point guard, an All-NBA First Team selection last season following his displays for the Thunder, made the All-Star Five at the World Cup after dazzling in Jakarta and Manila while leading Canada to third place – their first podium finish at the event.

Gilgeous-Alexander had the highest efficiency of all players at 30.4 per game, and was the fourth leading scorer at 24.5 points per game. The 25-year-old ranked 10th in assists (6.4 assists per game), and was third among all guards in rebounding at 6.4 rebounds per game.

When asked at the Thunder Media Day if Gilgeous-Alexander could bring that experience to the NBA team, Presti answered: “Yeah. One thing that we believe in is diversity of experience, playing with different players.

“One of the reasons why we (Oklahoma City) play with a lot of lineups is, competitively, it’s an advantage for us…

“Especially when it’s the postseason, or you’re playing really meaningful games, you need to have experience playing with different people in different environments.

“I THINK PLAYING IN THOSE GAMES IS HUGE. AND HE’S GOING TO COME BACK A BETTER PLAYER.”- Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti

“It can’t just be, ‘I can play well as long as it’s 75 degrees outside, the sun is shining and the wind is slowly blowing in.’ That’s not being a pro athlete.”

Presti drove home the message about the importance of players being able to cope with difficult and unfamiliar circumstances by sharing the example of the legendary Köln Concert  performed in 1975 by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. The story is also told here.  

Keith Jarrett played the concert of his life after he considered canceling the show because nothing was set up the way he usually wants things to be. Getting out of your comfort zone can be a path to greatness.

Gilgeous-Alexander coped with the different environments in Indonesia and the Philippines against other great national teams and will be a better player because of it.

“I think playing in those games is huge,” Presti said. “And he’s going to come back a better player.”

FIBA