Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN's Insiders sort out life and the news from in and around the NBA world, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's rise in the league, Spencer Dinwiddie's fit in Dallas, CJ McCollum's All-Star approach and the context of inflated stats.
Last week, after his team won on the road for the first time in more than a month, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about his patience with the franchise's rebuilding project.
It was a bait question that reporters have asked stars on small-market teams for decades and probably will for decades into the future. Most of the time, answers are perfunctory, except in the rare situations they are not. In those moments, statements can be made that are profound. Which is why the media asks -- just to check.
Gilgeous-Alexander gave such a profound answer Thursday night in Philadelphia.
"I think we're going be a really good team a lot sooner than people think, so I think it's pretty easy for me [to be patient]," he said. "I see the growth every day. I see the growth in the last five months, year, two years, and I'm super excited about it."
Gilgeous-Alexander had 37 points that night, including a sparkling 16-for-16 at the foul line, and the Thunder smashed the recently hot Philadelphia 76ers 133-114 for a statement victory. Then they won in Chicago and Brooklyn, completing a 3-1 Eastern Conference road trip that has snatched some attention as their young talent continues to develop nicely.
It was a crystalizing comment from SGA, his initials-only moniker now pretty much locked into the NBA lexicon seeing as he is averaging 31 points per game these days, that seemed like it quashed any lingering speculation about his buy-in to the Thunder's plan.
Having an elite player is vital -- you either have one or spend every single day trying to get one -- but it rarely works unless that player is fully bought in. Gilgeous-Alexander's performance over the past season and a half has him on the cusp of being recognized as a legitimate superstar, and his first All-Star appearance is coming soon. So this is not an inconsequential position for him to take.
The idea it was some sort of bold declaration induces some eye-rolling in Oklahoma City, where there has been a yearslong development of trust and cooperation. Gilgeous-Alexander has repeatedly pledged his commitment and expressed trust in general manager Sam Presti and coach Mark Daigneault, talking of being an enthusiastic member of their strategy sessions.
One team meeting with Presti, after the team kicked off its first true rebuild when it traded guards Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder in 2021 to clear the way for Gilgeous-Alexander as the franchise's lead guard, has always stuck with him.
"Sam talked to us and he used this word that really hit home -- catalyst," Gilgeous-Alexander said last year. "That is the perfect word to describe the opportunity I have. I have the opportunity to really build something and be at the forefront of it. That's something I know and embrace every day and maximize it for sure."
Despite these types of comments and the five-year, $170 million contract signed after those trades in 2021 -- most importantly, with no opt-out clause that granted the Thunder extra runway -- it didn't stop other teams from keeping tabs. While this is just Gilgeous-Alexander's fifth season and he's only 24, there was some wonder from other teams whether his timeline was the same as the Thunder's, regardless of what was said.
Well, the timeline is changing.
The Thunder started the week in a tie for 10th in the Western Conference. They are 9-5 over the past month despite some struggles on the road, which isn't a surprise for the super young roster, and have the easiest remaining schedule of West teams.
One of the most eye-opening takeaways from the recent All-Star voting is how close in the count Gilgeous-Alexander has been to Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, one of the young faces of the league. It was a strong indication fans have taken notice of his fearless style of play -- he leads the league in drives to the basket per game -- and the traction he got from making two game winners in the first two months of the season.
Last week, TNT altered its schedule to put the Thunder on national television for the first time since the 2020 playoffs in the Orlando, Florida, bubble, for a game in Miami. Trust there will be more games on national TV coming.
Plenty can be said about where the Thunder are as a franchise. They appear to be having a pivot season after two years out of the playoffs. Second-year guard Josh Giddey has blossomed in recent weeks, his shooting vastly improved working with respected development coach Chip Engelland, who was hired away from the San Antonio Spurs last summer. Rookie guard Jalen Williams, one of the fruits of the 2019 Paul George trade that also landed the Thunder Gilgeous-Alexander, is looking like a promising prospect. No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren has yet to play as he misses the season after a foot injury.
The Thunder own 13 first-round picks between now and 2027. They are projected to have more than $30 million in salary-cap space this summer. They also have the rights to Serbian guard Vasilije Micić, who plays in Turkey and is regarded as one of the top players in the EuroLeague. He might be ready to come to the NBA next season, and the Thunder are in position to either sign him or trade his rights elsewhere for value.
None of that is more important than Gilgeous-Alexander's move into the top echelon of the league's players. The combination of that and Gilgeous-Alexander's belief in what it could all lead to, and soon, might be one of the most important developments of this season.
Irrational confidence, realism and "when the NBA sucks": Tim MacMahon talks to Spencer Dinwiddie about playing next to Luka Doncic:
Doncic: Dinwiddie 'fits really good with this team'
Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie has a simple philosophy for surviving and succeeding as a complementary scorer alongside an NBA superstar.
"You have to have confidence that's borderline irrational, but you have to have a perspective that's very realistic," Dinwiddie told ESPN during a recent chat in the team hotel's lobby. "You've got to know who you are."
Dinwiddie's identity has changed drastically throughout the course of his nine-year career. He has been on the end of the bench, been waived twice, led a playoff team in scoring, tore an ACL in a contract year and, recently, been labeled as a malcontent within months of signing a three-year deal worth $54 million plus incentives with the Washington Wizards in 2021.
After being traded to Dallas last season, part of an exchange of unwanted contracts in the Kristaps Porzingis deal, Dinwiddie has thrived as a critical part of an MVP candidate Luka Doncic's supporting cast.
Dinwiddie is proud to have "dispelled a lot of rumors" by buying into a team concept, being a major contributor to a Western Conference finals run as a sixth man and capably stepping into the starting backcourt spot next to Doncic after Jalen Brunson's free agency departure. Dinwiddie said he appreciates the opportunity to have a "level of peace" and chance to win with the Mavs.
"I'm not going to say priceless, because obviously it's a job, but there's a premium on it for sure," Dinwiddie said. "I've lived some bulls--- sides of the NBA. Golly! Not even going into detail, but when the NBA sucks, it sucks. The NBA has very low lows and very high highs, and if you can snag a piece of that high high, I'll take it."
Dinwiddie has established himself as a source of consistency and reliability for the Mavs, who are fifth in the West with a 24-21 record despite a rash of injuries. He's averaging 16.6 points and 5.2 assists and has played all but one game. Dinwiddie is one of only four players in the league this season who have played at least 1,400 minutes while shooting at least 45% from the floor and 40% from 3-point range, joining Portland's Jerami Grant, Utah's Lauri Markkanen and Indiana's Buddy Hield.
"It's been a blessing."
— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2023
CJ McCollum reflects on his first year with the Pelicans. pic.twitter.com/oKZ31j074V
"He's an amazing player," Doncic said. "He can attack really well, he can shoot and he's a smart player. He fits really good with this team."
Dinwiddie is selective in when to shoot and when to attack while sharing the floor with a superstar who is leading the league in usage rate for the third consecutive season -- putting his ego aside and noting he's "not attempting to be a Mount Rushmore-type guy."
Adapting his game to play off Doncic, Dinwiddie has reaped the benefits. He had been a subpar 3-point shooter throughout his career, but Dinwiddie has shot 40.7% from long range in 85 games for the Mavs, including playoffs. He attributes the improvement in large part to the quality and quantity of catch-and-shoot looks generated, directly or indirectly, by Doncic.
Dinwiddie is shooting 46.6% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season, according to Second Spectrum tracking, which ranks sixth among 127 players with at least 100 attempts. He's shooting 57.4% (39 of 68) from the corners.
When Doncic is cooking, Dinwiddie focuses on "running my patterns with effort and thrust" to impact spacing as much as possible. Dinwiddie's aggression as a creator kicks in when he sees Doncic getting tired, hoping to give the superstar a physical and psychological break.
"We know Luka's a generational talent, and he's a very ball-dominant player," Dinwiddie said. "So you look for what he needs and what's going to complement him."
NBA reporter Andrew Lopez has the latest on CJ McCollum's All-Star chances:
McCollum: 'I get paid like an All-Star'
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum sat at his locker in the visitors locker room inside TD Garden last week, putting aside a plate of food and soaking his feet before inviting reporters over to speak with him.
McCollum had just scored 38 points on 15-of-24 shooting while going 6-of-12 from 3 in the Pelicans' 125-114 loss to the Boston Celtics. It was his fifth consecutive game with at least 25 points. He is, once again, playing at an All-Star level.
However, entering his 10th season and averaging at least 20 points per game every season since 2015-16, he has yet to make an All-Star Game.
Is this finally the year he makes it? McCollum was asked how meaningful it would be if he did make the list.
"I get paid like an All-Star," McCollum said calmly. "If it happens, that's great. If not, I'm treated very well on the first and 15th."
McCollum is right. He's making $33.3 million this year as a part of a three-year, $100 million extension he signed with Portland in July 2019. And, by the way, only 29 players are making more this season, and all of those 29 have been All-Stars. After being traded to New Orleans and helping lead the team to the playoffs last season, McCollum earned a two-year extension worth $64 million that will keep him paid like an All-Star through at least the 2025-26 season.
After Mike Conley made the All-Star Game in 2021, one could argue McCollum took the mantle as the best player in the league without the ASG badge.
"I just do my job. I've done it consistently," McCollum said. "You could argue that I could have made it in in previous years, but it's more about team success. Some people would argue if I was in the East, I would've been a multitime All-Star. But I think it's about team success. I'm here to try to win games. I'm going to be more efficient. I'm going to be consistent. I'm going to make plays, I'm going to make shots and try to help us win."
McCollum and the Pelicans have enjoyed team success this season. The Pelicans (26-17) are in third place in the Western Conference despite Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram both missing time.
New Orleans has gone 7-4 this season without both players thanks to McCollum and center Jonas Valanciunas.
McCollum is averaging 21.2 points and shooting 40.3% from deep. He's averaging career bests in assists per game (5.9) and rebounds per game (4.7). He has two 40-point games and set the Pelicans' franchise record with 11 3-pointers in a game on Dec. 30 against Philadelphia.
McCollum has the highest points-per-game average (19.3) among all players not to make an All-Star Game (min. 400 career games played). The next closest player to McCollum is Monta Ellis at 17.8 points per game.
McCollum will be in Salt Lake City for this year's All-Star Game -- he has to be as the president of the National Basketball Players Association. If he makes the game, he'll gladly play. If not, he said he has a nice vacation planned with his wife.
Either way, as long as the checks keep clearing, McCollum said he'll be just fine.
Kevin Pelton, a guru of tracking NBA numbers, says this era of inflated scoring needs new benchmarks:
Importance of putting inflated stats into context
When Charlotte Hornets wing Kelly Oubre Jr. underwent hand surgery earlier this month, my friend Nate Duncan of the "Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast" noticed Oubre was quietly averaging 20.2 PPG. He's one of three players scoring 20 PPG or better for the lowly Hornets, who have the NBA's second-worst record at 11-34.
Averaging 20 points used to be the mark of a high scorer, but as the league's point totals reach heights not seen since the 1970s, it no longer means what it used to. As recently as a decade ago (2012-13), just 11 players who qualified for the scoring title (minimum 70% of team games) topped 20 PPG, the lowest number since 1965-66.
By 2016-17, that figure had jumped to 31, the most in NBA history -- for now. Since then, the average has remained about one per team, with fewer players qualifying for the leaderboard because of injuries and reduced playing time for stars, offsetting the increase in leaguewide scoring.
This season, the 20-point club has exploded. Through Saturday, an incredible 42 qualified players were at 20 PPG or better, meaning All-Star rosters would need to nearly double in size for all of them to make it.
One of pioneering sabermetrician Bill James' most enduring arguments was that, in sports, statistics have the power of language. A 20-point scoring average offers shorthand for a player's ability. The scoring jump, in that sense, is like changing dialects. Averaging 20 PPG no longer means what it once did and requires us to find a new benchmark.
This season's average of 114.0 PPG per team is about 10% higher than the long-term average of 103 PPG since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. If using that as our guide, increasing the bar for high-scoring players to 22 PPG gets us closer to normal. Among qualified players this season, 22 reach that threshold, nearly all of whom either will be All-Stars this season or have been in the past.
Using league rankings is another way to get around scoring inflation. Cracking the top 10 in scoring remains as difficult as it has been since the NBA expanded it to its current size, so it isn't subject to the same fluctuations. Oubre's 20.2 PPG ranks 42nd in the league -- the exact same spot as back when he averaged a mere 18.7 PPG for the Phoenix Suns in 2019-20.