Nickeil Alexander-Walker reveals when Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got his signature aura

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker noticed something different about Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at a tender age that separated him from the others. Ahead of leading his team on a journey to win back-to-back championships, Gilgeous-Alexander says 2025-26 was a challenging regular season. It’s hard to tell from the outside. However, Alexander-Walker says Shai learned to control his emotions when they were young.

As cousins, Gilgeous-Alexander and Alexander-Walker played in basketball leagues together, where Nickeil noticed a difference in SGA’s approach, which he believes, has helped mold the reigning MVP we see today, he said, per The Old Man And The Three podcast.

“He didn’t get emotional with the game. He was very consistent in like ‘Bro, I know I’m gonna make it no matter how bad it is right now or how good it is right now.’ He just stuck to his work,” Alexander-Walker said. “He watched film. When I say film, we were watching Steph [Curry]. We were watching Kyrie [Irving].

“Then, the next day, we’re implement in our workouts. We play good that game — he watches it, he does it back. We play bad that game — he watches it, he does it back.”

For Alexander-Walker, discouragement was constant while playing basketball, whereas for Gilgeous-Alexander, it seemed non-existent.

“For me, I was frustrated with the game. I used to get so mad. I’m putting in all this work. Show me something. But he never wavered,” Alexander-Walker added. “That’s why I think now, to this day, people see calm, stoic, the aura people talk about. He’s been that way his entire upbringing of basketball. He just had faith it in.”

Nickeil Alexander-Walker on what stood out growing up with SGA

“He didn’t get emotional with the game. He was very consistent in like ‘Bro I know I’m gonna make it no matter how bad it is right now…’ He just had faith in it.”

(via @OldManAndThree) pic.twitter.com/cIDqi0lVkN

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 10, 2026

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is convinced that Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to stay focused without doubting himself is why SGA is so dominant.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander endorses Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander endorsed Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker for this year’s Most Improved Player award. After clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on Alexander-Walker’s career path, thus far, during his postgame media availability.

“He better win,” Gilgeous-Alexander said about Alexander-Walker’s candidacy for this year’s Most Improved Player award. “I think what’s most impressive about it is how he stuck with it. Us, obviously, going through so many experiences of life together, being the same age, and, obviously, both making it to the NBA; our paths were so connected until a certain point until a certain point.

“Then, it went left and right. And we talked so many times, countless times, about being ready when the moment comes. And I’m just proud of how much he stuck with it, and has taken advantage of this moment.”

The Thunder will face the Nuggets in its final road game of the regular season on Friday.

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