Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 2022-23 season was a breakout campaign for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose career-high 31.4 points per game was nearly seven points higher than the preceding year. In his first All-NBA First Team and All-Star season, the fifth-year guard became the third player in Oklahoma City Thunder history to average 30 points per game, joining franchise legends Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Gilgeous-Alexander also set career-best marks in field-goal and free-throw percentage, steals and blocks per game, becoming the second guard in NBA history to average 30 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block while shooting at least 50 percent. He also became the youngest guard to ever average 30 points per game on 50 percent shooting and finished fifth in MVP voting. Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 30 points in 45 of his 68 games — the most in the league this season. He also posted six 40-point games, matching his career-high with 44 points on February 10 to become the first Thunder player to score 40-plus points on 80 percent shooting. The Thunder are back on the rise, with Gilgeous-Alexander leading Oklahoma City to 40 wins and a spot in the play-in tournament following 22- and 24-win campaigns the previous two seasons.