Tracy McGrady compares SGA to Jordan, Kobe as Thunder move one win from NBA title

McGrady draws Jordan-Kobe parallels as SGA leads Thunder charge

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3–2 lead in the 2025 NBA Finals on Monday, June 16, with a 120–109 win over the Indiana Pacers. The series, now heading toward a potential Game 6 decider, has been shaped in large part by the performance of Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), whose midrange scoring and late-game control have drawn praise from league veterans.

Ahead of Game 4, NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s throwback offensive style, comparing him to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Also read: Tyrese Haliburton limps off after apparent injury setback in Thunder vs Pacers Game 5 of NBA Finals


“SGA’s style of play is very similar to Michael Jordan, or Kobe. This is what I have seen. He will not score with a 3-point wave,” McGrady said before Game 4.

Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 15 points in less than five minutes in the fourth quarter of Game 4, a burst that helped the Thunder even the series. The Thunder’s Game 5 victory now puts them one win away from securing the franchise’s first NBA title since relocating from Seattle in 2008.

Thunder one win from championship as SGA’s game gains spotlight

The 2025 NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series between the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. With three wins to the Pacers’ two, Oklahoma City needs just one more victory to clinch the NBA title. Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent production, especially his preference for the midrange and pull-up jumpers, has stood out in a league increasingly dominated by three-point shooting.

While McGrady’s comments were made prior to Game 4, they continue to gain relevance as the Thunder edge closer to the championship and Gilgeous-Alexander further cements his role as a modern-day star with an old-school game.