Times change, is Alexander a modern basketball superstar?

If the core of the NBA in the 2010s was "to create offensive space", then after entering 2020, the team trend mainly revolves around the "how to survive in space". Under such a trend, Alexander, the 26-year-old Thunder new leader, is gradually proving himself to be the most valuable player in the league through his personal abilities.

As the head of this historical team, Alexander has shown amazing dominance this season, averaging 32.7 points, 5 rebounds, 6.4 assists per game in the regular season, and shooting percentage of 51.9%; in the playoffs, he scored an equally excellent record of 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists. Currently, he has firmly established himself as the top scorer in the league.

Based on the data, Alexander this season has become the only guard in NBA history who scored more than 45 points per 100 possessions and shot a shooting percentage of more than 50%.

As a new MVP, Alexander's playing style is both simple and imaginative. Facing different defenses of different opponents, Alexander can always give the most extreme and simplest solution. The dribble is soft and flexible, and his skillful ball-handling skills allow him to create an offensive route with every dribble. Fake moves, hesitation, and offense and defense changes help him create scoring opportunities in the gaps in the rhythm.

For such an offensive choice, Alexander is like a rhythm master, and it is difficult for the defender to predict his next choice. As soon as the opponent stops, he starts the attack directly; and if the opponent chooses to reach out, Alexander will teach them a lesson directly.

In addition, Alexander's offensive choice is both retro and modern. Under the offensive rhythm of Thunder Wind Forest Volcano, the MVP guard is not completely obsessed with three-pointers from the outside. This sharp and meticulous offensive style is difficult to find a similar second player in today's league, and we can even see many classical scorers from him.

From the perspective of scoring, a view that is not very recognized by most people, Alexander's performance this season is almost comparable to Michael Jordan, who was the same age at that time.

The personal dominance around Alexander is also driving the qualitative change in Thunder's overall competitiveness. As the youngest and least-paid team in the league, these young people scored the best net-winning point difference in NBA history in the regular season, with a net-winning score of up to 12.2 points per game. In the playoffs, this score difference has risen to 14.1 points.

With Alexander's helm at the Thunder, this team does not have to be restricted by the lineup, so as to choose to compromise and make concessions. No matter in any lineup, as long as Alexander is present, the Thunder can maintain stable basic efficiency. In a small ball lineup without a center, Alexander can face any defensive matchup; and in a large configuration of double centers, Alexander can also face narrow and difficult offensive space to stably score.

And this is the most critical link in the Thunder's final success in becoming the top team in the championship.

Now, in front of Alexander, the biggest question is no longer "Is he the MVP in 2025", but should be "Is he one of the most valuable players in history."

Referring to the player positive and negative value data, Alexander this season is the best defender since Curry in 2017; even referring to RAPM (regularized adjustment plus and negative value), Alexander is still the highest since the statistics. Relying on Alexander alone can turn a group of young teams at the second and third core levels into a championship-level strong team. When Alexander played this season, the Thunder were able to beat their opponent by 16.9 points per 100 rounds.

After surpassing data, Alexander is basically the biggest representative of the NBA data era. But when the most important statistics become calculation formulas and are not intuitive results of the game, it is naturally difficult for the outside world not to question Alexander.

As the traditional stars in the old era gradually fade away, the current era of star temperament seems to have become the only thing left. Sports brands can no longer rely on momentum to create superstar players; the promotional value of Sports Illustrated is gradually replaced by players' podcast social media. The current NBA endorsement seems to be no longer judged by any media organization, and the voice of star fans seems to be growing.

On the surface, the word star temperament does not only mean that the player is handsome and dresses with style, but more from the player's aura and competitive skills. To a greater extent, it is a game style, rather than a simple personal data. It's not about what you did, but how you did it.

As the MVP of this season, although Alexander is accompanied by doubts, at least he proved that his star temperament is not empty talk, but the standard line for NBA players to move towards the star level when the times.

From some perspectives, referring to the temperament of a star, this is the most direct and advantageous way to understand modern basketball.

Based on the data, Alexander's singles score in each round is actually lower than the Thunder's overall offensive efficiency, but as long as he is on the court and as long as he holds the ball and passes half the court, the opponent will naturally double-team him.

Even though his fixed-point shooting ability is not fatal, the defender still chooses to keep a close eye on him; his single-defense ability can only be considered a qualified level, but his excellent assisted defense ability is enough to allow other offensive players to take a detour. Just his appearance on the field is enough to make the opponent's attacking side lose their position.

This is his value, mainly lies in the psychological harm caused to the opponent invisibly. And this is the most critical threshold for Alexander to become a superstar.

Everything the playoffs, even though Alexander was in a sluggish state, his calmness became the Thunder's most stable offensive and defensive foundation. Thanks to team-level advantages, the Thunder's floor lower limit is much higher than the ceiling of most teams.. Even in the face of the Nuggets' new regional joint defense, Alexander can still maintain the familiar high-efficiency level.

After entering the Western Conference Finals, within just five games, Alexander had already cracked the Timberwolves' top-level defense line, constantly using personal threats and the ability to commit fouls, so that the Timberwolves realized the strongest combat power mode of the current NBA rules.

When facing Alexander, any opponent must redefine himself, which is a big problem; for the Thunder, it is enough that they only need to continue to be themselves well. As long as they can be consistent, in the next time, all they have to lose is a championship trophy.