How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey are meshing in OKC Thunder backcourt

Eleven months ago, the always-on-message Thunder showed the tiniest splinter of dissent when pressed about the backcourt dynamics between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

And even then, it was only a difference of semantics.

After a February home game against the Suns, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters that Giddey was going to play more on the ball, even when sharing the court with Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s up-and-coming star. Daigneault later clarified that he meant more as in more than Giddey had played on the ball in the past rather than more than Gilgeous-Alexander would going forward.

Gilgeous-Alexander had just returned from a 10-game injury absence and Giddey had been playing well.

“Me as a player, I don’t wanna hinder that at all …,” Gilgeous-Alexander said at the time. “I know to be one of the best teams in the league, which we want to be very soon, you’ve gotta have multiple guys that can play on the ball.”

Then, when he was asked about drawing back to his off-ball experience next to guards Chris Paul and Dennis Schröder in the 2019-20 season, SGA gave the buzz quote.

“Obviously, it’s still not my Plan A,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, “but it’s something that you have to sacrifice to be a really good team.”

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NBA statistics show how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey are growing together

As far as NBA dramas go, SGA’s “Plan A” comment hardly registered. And it didn’t even bear out, because Giddey injured his hip and was shut down after that Phoenix game.

However, all of that context is necessary when assessing the on-court fit between Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey almost a year later. The puzzle isn’t solved, but what seemed a rigid offensive fit between SGA and Giddey last season has looked much smoother in Year 2, especially during the Thunder’s hot stretch of play.

The two young guards are learning how to complement each other, how to accentuate each others’ game, and the numbers support the eye test.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey have played 826 minutes together this season, not far off from the 931 minutes they shared last season.

Here’s how the Thunder has performed offensively when both SGA and Giddey are on the floor:

2021-22: 103.4 points per 100 possessions

2022-23: 112.3 points per 100 possessions

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A 112.3 offensive rating doesn’t justify planning a parade, to be clear. For context, it would rank as the No. 22 offense in the league. The Thunder as a whole is 19th in offense with a 112.7 offensive rating.

But a 112.3 offensive rating looks awfully nice next to a 103.4 offensive rating. That 8.9 point margin is about the same difference between the NBA’s best offense (Nuggets, 118.0 offensive rating) and worst offense (Rockets 109.2).

Simply put, it’s progress.

“When you’ve got two guys that really want to get it right, it’s less about their games, it’s less about their fit,” Daigneault said last week. “It’s more about, do the players want to work to get right?

“And in this particular case we have an entire team, it’s not just limited to Josh and Shai, (of) guys that want to get it right. I think that’s what you’re seeing over time.”

Speaking of time, SGA is 24 and Giddey just turned 20. They’ve played less than a full season together (78 games) when you factor in injuries.

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Josh Giddey's 3-point shooting much better in Year 2

Giddey got off to a slow start this season, and while trying to turn his game around, he also had to adapt his playing style. Instead of fitting next to a fringe All-Star (which Gilgeous-Alexander was last season), Giddey had to learn how to play alongside the certified superstar SGA has become.

Giddey’s 3-point improvement — from 26% to 33% — has been a huge factor while playing a complementary role next to Gilgeous-Alexander. And when SGA is off the floor, Giddey can comfortably run the show.

“There were stretches when it didn’t work, it did work, but I think now we’ve really found how to play with each other — how to play off the ball, how to play on the ball,” Giddey said.

“We have a lot of sets where I’m initiating it (and) it’s getting to Shai. It's a good way to get both of us involved, and I think we’ve done a really good job being unselfish, getting off the ball, letting each other … it’s not so much taking turns, but being unselfish and recognizing if one guy’s got it going, we’re going to go to that and use it.”

Gilgeous-Alexander has been happy to let Giddey cook, and vice versa.

“Josh has been really good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the Thunder’s win in Brooklyn. “He’s being aggressive, he’s making the right play, he’s playing super efficient basketball. The kid works hard and he has the mental (game) for sure, and it’s all coming together for him.”

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Giddey is averaging 16 points per game, which ranks second on the Thunder and third among all qualified sophomores behind Jalen Green and Franz Wagner.

Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, is fifth in the NBA in scoring at 30.7 points per game.

“Shai could have 40 points every night if he wanted to,” Giddey said, “but he’s unselfish, he gets off the ball, he makes players around him better.”

Last week, in the Thunder’s win against the Pacers, Giddey whipped a no-look bounce pass to a cutting Gilgeous-Alexander, who paid off the pretty pass with a dunk.

Gilgeous-Alexander pointed at Giddey as the two ran back down the floor.

Moments like those are happening more and more frequently, which bodes well for the Thunder’s future.

Thunder vs. Hawks

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey finding fit in Thunder backcourt