Giannis Antetokounmpo had one request before the All-Star Game in February.
"Just shake my hand," Antetokounmpo told Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while they were in the locker room. "I just want a little bit of aura."
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, then sauntered around the locker room, imitating the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar. He moved with an unmistakable swagger. He pretended to dribble a basketball twice, step-back with his left foot, hesitate and then shoot a jumper.
Gilgeous-Alexander laughed at the show.
All eyes are on Gilgeous-Alexander this season, even in a room filled with some of the league's biggest stars. Anthony Edwards called him the "MVP of the NBA" after he scored 40 points in a win over Minnesota on New Year's Eve.
A fan even asked Gilgeous-Alexander to sign his baby earlier this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander has transformed from a player who was overlooked for much of his career into a full blown superstar. He's in a two-horse race with Nikola Jokic for the MVP Award, and has led the Thunder to first-place in the Western Conference with a record of 56-12.
But for him, none of that matters.
"Championship or bust," Gilgeous-Alexander said in an exclusive interview with FOX Sports. "If we don't win, it's a failure."
In many ways, Gilgeous-Alexander is the perfect superstar for the Thunder, whose culture is built around a team-first mentality. He usually does his postgame TV interviews alongside his teammates, which is a stark contrast from the norm. And he often credits them for his success.
In fact, amid his meteoric ascension, one thing has caught the attention of those around him more than his gaudy stats.
He hasn't changed much.
"During this whole rise, he has been the exact same guy," Thunder
Read more on foxnews.com
foxnews.com
