BBNBA: SGA goes for 50 (again), Sheppard shines, and Tshiebwe seizes an opportunity

Former Kentucky Wildcats have already made plenty of headlines this week. Let’s dive right on in to your midweek BBNBA update.

ANOTHER 50-point game for SGA

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is riding a one-way ticket to the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. He’s been excellent once again this week through three games. The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard dropped (a modest) 31 points against the Spurs on Sunday before going for 51 points (his fourth 50-point game of the season, all coming within the last seven weeks) in a win over the Rockets on Monday and then 41 points on Wednesday in a win over the Grizzlies.

Thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance, OKC has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, the only Western Conference team to do so thus far. The Thunder are 8-2 over its last 10 games and have now won five straight. With every big win, SGA continues to extend his lead as the MVP favorite. FanDuel gives him -600 odds to win the league’s top individual award. Denver’s Nikola Jokic is a distant second with +380 odds. No former ‘Cat has ever won NBA MVP.

.@WindhorstESPN believes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's impact is "undersold."

"I see people talk about that there's a race for the MVP, I just don't think that there is. I think he's in the lead by a lot." 👀 pic.twitter.com/3Solecj6Dm

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 5, 2025

Oscar Tshiebwe’s career night

Welcome to the Big Leagues, Oscar Tshiebwe! The second-year center is finally getting a real shot with the Utah Jazz as the regular season begins to wind down. He’s appeared in all three games this week for the tanking Jazz, but no outing was better than his performance Sunday night. Tshiebwe was excellent in his 20 minutes, posting his first-ever NBA double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds on 8-9 shooting.

Since he’s on a two-way contract, Tshiebwe was actually able to play three games in a 24-hour span. After going for his double-double on Sunday, he played for Utah’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, on Monday and had a career night: 21 points, a career-high 30 (THIRTY!) rebounds, and four assists. Later that same night, he suited up again for the Jazz, going for one point and three rebounds in six minutes.

Tshiebwe stuck with the Jazz for the franchise’s game Wednesday night, finishing with six points (3-6 FG) and 13 rebounds. Someone get this man a full-time NBA contract, please!

16 PTS ⭐️ 13 REB ⭐️ 8/9 FG

Oscar Tshiebwe is a MACHINE! The @utahjazz Two-Way signee posted his first NBA double-double and career-highs in scoring and in rebounding last night vs. the Pelicans. #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/7VBfMg0ZT2

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 3, 2025

Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard — balling out

How about a couple of Kentucky rookies?? Justin Edwards (76ers) and Reed Sheppard (Rockets) have played some great basketball this week.

Edwards, who was sidelined for Tuesday’s game due to an ankle injury, was terrific the night before in a loss to the Trail Blazers. In what was his 10th start of the season, Edwards went for 16 points and six rebounds in 37 minutes. He shot 7-15 from the field and 2-5 from deep. Through 28 games this season, Edwards is averaging 8.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per outing on shooting splits of 46.4/36.7/63.2.

As for Sheppard, injuries to several Rockets starters allowed him a chance to shine. He took full advantage of it Monday with career-highs in points (25) and minutes (31). It came in a loss to OKC (the same night SGA dropped 51) but it was the first time all season Sheppard received some real run. He followed that game up Tuesday night with four points (2-6 FG), two assists, and two steals in 15 minutes.

BBNBA contract notes

• The Pelicans have converted Brandon Boston Jr.’s two-way contract to a standard NBA deal. The team did not reveal the exact terms of Boston’s deal, however SportTrac estimates Boston will make $2.35 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. In 42 games this season, Boston is averaging career highs in every major category with 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.
• The Kings have signed Skal Labissiere to a 10-day contract. The former Kentucky center will give the Kings some big-man depth as their star player, Domantas Sabonis, is out with a hamstring injury. Labissiere has spent the last two seasons with Sacramento’s G-League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. This season, he is averaging 15.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, almost identical numbers to what he put up last year.