'I'm Going to Try': OKC Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Eyeing Steve Nash Amid Canadian Basketball Ascent

Following his 31-point night as a first-time All-Star starter, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flaunted the fashion sense integral to his development into a household NBA talent. 

Dressed from head-to-toe in white monochrome, the centerpiece of the 25-year-old's outfit was a Gruppo Vava jacket that donned a "V" design across its canvas, paying tribute to the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh. The top of his head featured a shiny clipped-on headpiece that drew the eyes of the media and the cameras surrounding him, despite being well-accustomed to his bold clothing choices. 

Honoring Abloh wasn’t anything new for influencers tuned-into hip-hop culture. In fact, fellow Canadian star Drake — another man Gilgeous-Alexander has built a strong relationship with over the years — wore the same jacket in his "8am in Charlotte" music video.

But it wasn't just Abloh who found relevancy during the media scrum Sunday night. 

So, too, did Steve Nash.

“Does it make it more special [to you] to represent on this stage the way that you have for your country?” a reporter asked Gilgeous-Alexander. 

His answer, which carried an astounding yes in its delivery, wasn’t surprising. Gilgeous-Alexander had always placed his Canadian heritage close to his heart, and this wasn’t any exception. But not only was he joining a strong group of great Canadian basketball players — he was being praised as the best one by former All-Star Stephon Marbury. 

“To hear that, what do you think?” the reporters continued. 

Gilgeous-Alexander turned and gave a blunt answer. 

"I appreciate that, but Steve is still ahead of me," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I'm going to try to catch him, but he's still ahead of me."

In the pantheon of Canadian basketball greats, no player has accomplished more than Nash. The Hall of Famer received two MVP awards and eight All-Star selections in his illustrious career, with only a championship ring alluding him. 

Although his time with the Dallas Mavericks saw his rise to stardom, it wasn’t until Nash’s second stint with the Phoenix Suns when he became an MVP-level talent. By proxy, he became the first Canadian player ever to win the award, and received the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian Athlete of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2006.

Before Nash, Canadian athletes weren’t exactly commonplace in the NBA. The country that breathes hockey didn’t have an emphasis on the sport for its youth, so once it became time for Nash to play college ball, only Santa Clara University recruited him in the entirety of the United States.

Nash was truly a trailblazer for Canadian basketball, paving the way for countless athletes — including Gilgeous-Alexander — to successfully take the leap into the NBA.

Gilgeous-Alexander is certainly the most talented player the league has seen out of Canada since Nash’s retirement several years ago, following in the footsteps of the path he laid out. He has a long way to go until he reaches the same prowess, but he’s on the right trajectory.

In his short six-year career in the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander has already racked up two All-Star selections and soon-to-be two All-NBA campaigns, cementing himself as one of the brightest young stars in basketball. His greatness is finally being represented on a national stage, while his MVP case skyrockets as Oklahoma City continues to win games.

After All-Star weekend, it’s safe to say Gilgeous-Alexander has officially reached superstar status. 

In just one day, the Oklahoma City Thunder's leader played as an All-Star starter over one of the greatest players in NBA history in Stephen Curry, got named by him, LeBron James and Kevin Durant as a player they are passing the torch to and scored a second-best 31 points for the Western Conference squad.

It was an opportune moment to cement his name alongside longtime superstars, which he accomplished in stride. It not only proved the star’s legitimate greatness and status as a top 10 player in basketball, but the potential he carries to become one of the biggest faces in the NBA.

To surpass Nash on the Canadian basketball ladder one day, Gilgeous-Alexander has to sustain the longevity of stardom for many more years. That’s not to say he can’t, but it’s what separates the all-time legends from the stars.

The one area the Oklahoma City star can reach where Nash didn’t is an NBA championship, with plenty of time to make that happen. The Thunder is just now beginning the early stages of long-term championship contention, centered around the core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. 

The core has all of the potential to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the near feature, which was exemplified with its presence during All-Star weekend. The frontman for that would undoubtedly be Gilgeous-Alexander, and with a potential MVP win down the road, it would set himself apart from Nash. 

But to truly be the greatest Canadian basketball player ever, he will have to lead the national team as Nash did during his career. Gilgeous-Alexander's already represented the country well throughout his time in the NBA, but even beyond Nash's playing prime, he served as the General Manager of Canada’s Senior Men’s Basketball Team in 2012.

Luckily for Gilgeous-Alexander, the state of Canada basketball is much stronger than it was a decade ago. Plenty of young talent has emerged from the country and has made the transition to the NBA, so it has a substantially bigger chance at having success in FIBA tournaments or the Olympics than Nash's time at the helm. 

"It's on the rise," Gilgeous-Alexander said of the Canadian basketball program. "So many talented young guys, guys my age, guys older than us. We have a good crop of talent in Canada."

As exciting as this prospective accomplishment is for the 25-year-old, the focus now is solely on this season. Oklahoma City has a chance to compete for a championship sooner than many expected, and it's the first opportunity he has to take a crack at it.

The time will come where Gilgeous-Alexander's legacy is debated, whether it be related to the NBA or Canada. His career is just getting started, though, and getting to that point will come with patience.

For now, Gilgeous-Alexander will accept second place on the Canadian basketball hierarchy behind Nash. 

But that won't always be the case.