Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago. Back in 2018, the NBA landscape looked nothing like it does today. LeBron was just heading to the Lakers, the Warriors were still an untouchable dynasty, and a skinny kid from Canada with a funky last name was waiting for his phone to ring. If you’re asking when did SGA get drafted, the short answer is June 21, 2018. But the short answer is boring. The real story is how almost every team in the lottery missed a future MVP candidate who was hiding in plain sight.
Draft night is always a chaotic mess of suits and bad trades. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn't the "main character" of that evening. Not even close. All the cameras were pointed at Deandre Ayton, the physical marvel out of Arizona, and Luka Dončić, the European wonder kid. Shai was just a part of the supporting cast, a long-limbed guard from Kentucky who people liked but didn't necessarily love.
He went 11th.
Think about that for a second. Ten teams looked at Shai and said, "Nah, we’re good." Some of those picks aged like milk. Looking back at the 2018 NBA Draft, it’s one of the most fascinating "what if" scenarios in recent basketball history.
The Night Everything Changed: June 21, 2018
The Barclays Center was buzzing. When the Charlotte Hornets officially took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th overall pick, he didn't even have time to get comfortable in the teal and purple hat. Within minutes—basically before the ink was dry on the draft card—he was traded.
The Clippers wanted him. Badly.
Jerry West, the legendary "Logo" himself, saw something in the Canadian guard that others missed. The Clippers sent the 12th and 13th picks (which became Miles Bridges and two second-rounders) to Charlotte just to move up one spot. One single spot. That tells you everything you need to know about how highly the Clippers' front office valued him, even if the rest of the league was sleeping.
He was 19. Just a teenager with a massive wingspan and a calm demeanor that veterans would envy. At Kentucky, John Calipari had used him as a sort of Swiss Army knife. He wasn't the highest-rated recruit coming in—guys like Hamidou Diallo and Kevin Knox had more "hype"—but by the end of the season, Shai was the engine.
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Who Went Before Him?
It’s fun (and painful) to look at the names called before Shai.
- Deandre Ayton (Suns)
- Marvin Bagley III (Kings)
- Luka Dončić (Mavericks/Hawks trade)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
- Trae Young (Hawks/Mavericks trade)
- Mohamed Bamba (Magic)
- Wendell Carter Jr. (Bulls)
- Collin Sexton (Cavaliers)
- Kevin Knox (Knicks)
- Mikal Bridges (76ers/Suns trade)
Some of these guys are All-Stars. Others? Well, they’re playing in Europe or struggling to find minutes. But at the time, the consensus was that Shai was a "project." A high-floor, low-ceiling type of player. Scouts worried about his jump shot. They worried about his slight frame. They thought he was too slow to be an elite point guard but too small to be a wing.
They were wrong.
The Trade That Actually Defined Him
While we talk about when did SGA get drafted, his career didn't truly explode until the trade that sent him to Oklahoma City. After a stellar rookie year in LA where he pushed the Kevin Durant-era Warriors in the playoffs, Shai became the centerpiece of the Paul George trade in 2019.
The Clippers gave up a king's ransom: Shai, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks, and two pick swaps.
At the time, people thought the Thunder got a "decent young player" and a bunch of picks. Nobody realized they had just acquired a cornerstone. Sam Presti, the Thunder GM, knew. He watched Shai's poise. He saw how the kid played at his own pace, never letting defenders speed him up. It’s a rare trait. Most young guards play like they’re caffeinated squirrels; Shai plays like he’s walking through a grocery store on a Sunday morning.
He learned under Chris Paul during that weird, wonderful 2019-2020 "Bubble" season. CP3 taught him how to manipulate defenses. How to use that 6'11" wingspan to finish over bigger bodies. Shai went from a promising rookie to a legitimate star in the making.
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Why the 2018 Draft Class is Historic
We’re starting to realize that 2018 might be one of the greatest drafts ever. You have Luka. You have Trae. You have Shai. You have Jalen Brunson (who went in the second round!).
Shai stands out because his ascent was gradual. He didn't come out of the gate averaging 20 points like Luka did. He had to earn it. Every year, his scoring average ticked up. Every year, his footwork got tighter. By the time 2023 rolled around, he was an All-NBA First Team selection.
It’s wild to think that the New York Knicks took Kevin Knox over him. Or that the Kings took Marvin Bagley over both Shai and Luka. These are the kinds of decisions that haunt franchises for decades. If the Knicks had drafted Shai, the entire trajectory of the NBA would be different.
The Canadian Connection
We also have to mention that Shai is the crown jewel of the "Golden Age" of Canadian basketball. When he was drafted in 2018, he was part of a wave that included RJ Barrett, Jamal Murray, and Andrew Wiggins. But Shai has surpassed them all. He’s the first Canadian since Steve Nash to truly look like an MVP frontrunner.
His journey from Hamilton, Ontario, to the heights of the NBA started on that June night in Brooklyn. It wasn't flashy. There were no blockbuster rumors about him leading up to the draft. He just showed up, put on the hat, and started working.
Analyzing the "Draft Bust" Narrative
Whenever we discuss when did SGA get drafted, the conversation inevitably turns to the "busts" picked ahead of him. Is it fair to call Mohamed Bamba or Kevin Knox busts? Maybe. But it’s more about the evolution of the game.
In 2018, teams were still obsessed with "unicorns"—tall guys who could theoretically shoot and block shots. That’s why Bamba went 6th. Shai didn't fit a mold. He was a "guard" who played like a "wing." He didn't have a blistering first step, but his change of direction was elite.
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The teams that passed on him were looking for highlights. The Clippers were looking for winning basketball.
The Numbers That Don't Lie
Check out the jump in his stats since that draft night:
- Rookie Year (LAC): 10.8 PPG, 3.3 APG
- Year Three (OKC): 23.7 PPG, 5.9 APG
- Year Six (OKC): 30.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 2.0 SPG
He didn't just get better; he became a defensive menace too. That’s the part people forget. He leads the league in steals or deflections half the time. He’s a two-way superstar, which is a lot rarer than just a "scorer."
Actionable Takeaways for NBA Fans
If you're following the league today, understanding Shai’s draft journey helps you scout future talent. Here’s what you should look for in the "next Shai":
- Look for Poise Over Speed: Players who can play at their own pace (like Shai or Luka) usually translate better to the playoffs than players who rely solely on raw athleticism.
- Wingspan is a Cheat Code: Shai’s ability to disrupt passing lanes and finish at the rim comes down to his length. Always check the "measurements" section of a draft profile.
- The "Second Year" Jump: Don't write off a player after their rookie season. Shai was good as a rookie, but he didn't become SGA until year three or four.
- Character Matters: Everyone who has coached Shai—from Calipari to Doc Rivers to Mark Daigneault—praises his work ethic. In a league of millionaires, the guys who stay in the gym are the ones who become MVP candidates.
The 2018 draft changed the Oklahoma City Thunder forever, even though they didn't even have a pick in the top ten that year. They just waited for the right moment to strike. Whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore stats nerd, the story of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a reminder that the "experts" don't always know everything on draft night. Sometimes, the best player in the room is the one sitting at the table nobody is looking at.
If you're watching the Thunder tonight, just remember: it all started with a trade for the 11th pick. The rest, as they say, is history.
To track Shai's current performance, keep an eye on his "True Shooting Percentage" and "Defensive EPM" (Estimated Plus-Minus). These metrics highlight why he’s currently considered a top-five player in the world, far exceeding the expectations of his original draft slot. Watching his footwork in the mid-range is basically a masterclass in modern basketball—pay attention to how he uses his shoulders to create space without fouling. That's the secret sauce.