There’s no denying point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s talent is worthy of an MVP award given how he performed last season and during Canada’s win in the Olympics over Greece. As such, a former NBA champion went out of his way to send a special message to the Oklahoma City Thunder star.
In the opening game of the 2024 Olympic men’s basketball tournament in Paris, Canada defeated Greece with a score of 86-79 in a closely contested matchup. The star-studded Canadian team, led by Gilgeous-Alexander and Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett, was able to hold off a late comeback attempt by the Greeks, who were paced by an outstanding 34-point performance from two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Canada jumped out to a 16-point lead in the second half, but Greece refused to go away, chipping away at the deficit and eventually cutting it to just two points in the final minute. However, Gilgeous-Alexander made a clutch runner over Antetokounmpo to extend Canada’s lead, and they were able to seal the victory at the free-throw line.
Barrett was the leading scorer for Canada with 23 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander added 21 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Despite Antetokounmpo’s heroics, the rest of the Greek team struggled to provide consistent support, with Kostas Papanikolaou being the only other player in double figures.
The game showcased the talent and depth of the Canadian squad, who were able to weather the storm and pick up an important win in their return to the Olympics after a 24-year absence.
Former NBA Champion Tristan Thompson Sends Special Message To Shai Gilgeous-Alexander After Canada’s Olympics Win Over Greece
After the game, different personalities gave their take on Canada’s win over Greece. Among them was one-time NBA champion Tristan Thompson in a message he posted on his official X account.
“CANADA 🇨🇦 my brother @shaiglalex is special!!!! Great win fellas 😤” Thompson tweeted.
Over the course of 75 games last season, SGA averaged 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per contest to lead the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference. He was also second in the MVP race, one which Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic won earlier this year.
With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, Canada is aiming to get its best finish ever in the Olympics. If they succeed, SGA’s star is going to be brighter than ever.
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