The Top 20 point guards in 2023-24

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

2023-24 stats: 30.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.0 bpg, 53.0 FG%, 36.3 3P% in 85 games
Salary ranking: No. 34 ($33,386,850)

As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developed as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, many wondered just how high his ceiling might be and whether or not he could reach that MVP-level strata of NBA greats. The Canadian superstar answered those questions resoundingly this year, finishing second in the 2023-24 MVP vote, even receiving 15 first-place votes in the process, as he led the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the West with a 57-25 record and to the second round of the playoffs. The former Kentucky standout ranked Top 5 this season in VORP, BPM, WS/48 and Global Rating, finishing as high as No. 2 overall in WS/48.

Not only was Gilgeous-Alexander an elite scorer, he also got enough votes for All-Defensive Team that he would have been on 3rd Team All-Defense if such a thing existed, speaking to his two-way value, too.

And although Oklahoma City wasted a golden chance to make an even deeper playoff run this season, as their inexperience showed in the six-game defeat against the Dallas Mavericks in the second round, with Gilgeous-Alexander having to carry so much of the load, there’s no question they’re way ahead of schedule and should be a force in the West for years to come. 

Sure, that has been said about teams before who ultimately weren’t able to take that next step, but with Gilgeous-Alexander, a proven MVP-level player, leading the way, this Thunder team should be different than the promising teams of yesteryear.