NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters the NBA draft as a highly touted and much hyped prospect, but how will his game translate to the NBA?

A long, rangy guard out of Kentucky, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unquestionably has the necessary physical tools to catch the attention of NBA scouts.

Standing at 6’6″ tall, and possessing a 7’0″ wingspan, Gilgeous-Alexander is very much the modern guard in a physical sense. He has the length to be unbothered by bigger men around the rim offensively, and the kind of wingspan that makes him eminently switchable on defense.

Hailing from Canada and having already succeeded with the Canadian national team at underage levels, Gilgeous-Alexander moved to the US as a 16-year-old with a point to prove, and has developed considerably since.

More from Bucks Draft

• Grading Milwaukee Bucks 2022 Draft Picks Beauchamp and Besson
• Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for No. 17 pick in 2017 NBA redraft
• Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for No. 10 selection in 2016 NBA redraft
• Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for No. 17 selection in 2015 NBA redraft
• Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for No. 2 selection in the 2014 NBA redraft

Gilgeous-Alexander is known as a hard worker with an excellent understanding of the game, which along with his physical gifts will give him the potential to play multiple positions in the NBA.

In a single season with Kentucky, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, en route to SEC All-Freshman Team honors.

With many facets of his game still needing to be rounded out, can Gilgeous-Alexander become an elite player rather than a player with the physical tools to be elite, though?

Let’s take a closer look at his game, how he’s rated in the draft community and his potential fit with the Milwaukee Bucks to find out.