Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Says NBA Superstars Can’t Be Defined By Formula

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t believe there’s a clear set of criteria to determine whether or not an NBA player qualifies as a “superstar.”

“I don’t know how to define that one,” he said in an interview on NBA Today, contrasting the label with distinct honors such as becoming an All-Star or MVP. “For me personally, I think that’s one of those things that’s like the face of the league convo.

“It’s for the world to decide and their opinions and they come together and I guess as a collective more people think you’re a superstar or more people think you’re a face of the league than not. And I guess you become that and you walk into it. But I don’t think that’s something that has a formula. I think it’s just like a feel thing.”

To Gilgeous-Alexander’s point, it’s hard enough to define what constitutes the most valuable player in the league or the best defender. Trying to figure out who’s a “superstar” or who’s worthy of being the “face of the NBA” is an even more abstract concept.

And trying to develop a set of guidelines is a foolhardy exercise because there will always be exceptions who qualify.

Michael Jordan and LeBron James were both superstars well before they won their first NBA titles. New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has been injured for much of his career, yet he still feels like a superstar talent. Market size can help somebody such as the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson but doesn’t necessarily hurt because the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards is receiving plenty of hype.

Superstar can also be a fluid descriptor. James Harden, Trae Young and Paul George have all arguably carried the label but don’t generate the same kind of excitement they once did.

In short, you know a superstar when you see one and that’s what makes this ripe for regular discourse.