It’s easy to dismiss the Oklahoma City Thunder as team that isn't winning much anytime soon. With Russell Westbrook being traded before the 2018-19 season and Chris Paul leaving for the Phoenix Suns just recently, fans had little expectations for the present-day Thunder at all. But if there’s a common denominator that links the Thunder’s early success to last season’s impressive run, it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The combo guard from Canada has developed well ever since he was chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 11th pick in the 2018 Draft. Now in his third season, SGA is slowly using the momentum he has built up to capture the attention of fans and card collectors alike. That’s why there’s always a rush whenever his rookie and second-year cards are involved. Rather than be left by the crowd, it’s best to know why you should invest in this rising star’s cards sooner rather than later.

 

SGA is the future of OKC

No matter how much you twist things around, one thing is for sure in Oklahoma City – the Thunder is Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s team now. There’s no denying that Luguentz Dort is an intriguing piece that can provide a lot of defensive grit and Darius Bazley is their power forward of the future. Although these players are crucial, there is no player more important to the Thunder than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

With the departure of Chris Paul, Dennis Schröder, and Danillo Gallinari, SGA was given the keys to lead OKC into their future by being their go-to guy today. He is the focal point of their offense and creates opportunities for his teammates by attracting multiple defenders. At the same time, his presence gives the Thunder an identity to latch onto, especially with the absence of proven veteran stars on their team.

Even if that’s the case, there’s no denying that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the face of OKC and the star where everything in the organization revolves on. If his development continues at this rate, and the Thunder surrounds him with all the right pieces, you can count on SGA to win a lot of games for Oklahoma City. As early as the team's first game of the season, Shai showed off his game-winning abilities.

With every clutch dagger Shai makes throughout his career, the higher his value around the league and the cards community will go.

He gets buckets anywhere on the floor

When you put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander under a microscope and analyze his game, you’d see that he’s not like other stars in the league. His game doesn’t resemble that of established stars, like, Stephen Curry or James Harden. Instead, he relies on his craftiness and ability to switch speeds to get buckets for the Thunder, which he does to the tune of 20.5 points per game.

Thunder-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

For this season, he’s shooting 51% from the field, 35% from beyond the perimeter, and 80% from the free-throw lane. With that kind of production, you can be sure SGA will constantly get buckets from all three levels of the court. Staying efficient and effective will continue to grow his reputation around the league as a true star talent.

 

Shai is a multi-time All-Star in the making

There’s no denying that it’s only a matter of time before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the invite to the All-Star game. With his role as the Thunder’s top dog and the way he’s improving season after season, it’s a given to see SGA represent Oklahoma City as its All-Star in the coming years. With the Thunder's war chest of draft picks, and team culture being firmly established, success is soon to follow. Get ready because this eventual development will have a serious impact on his cards by drastically raising their value in the market. The wisest course of action is to get this young star’s cards before they shoot up.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder, Raptors

If you’re contemplating which young player is a good choice to buy this season, you can’t make a better decision than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With the way he’s playing and all the minutes being given to him, you can be sure your investment will double its value in no time at all.