Why Jalen Brunson is the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Eastern Conference
Part I: Shooting Analysis
Take a look at Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting matrices and shot distribution maps below for the 2023-24 regular season per Cleaning the Glass:
SGA vs. Brunson shooting matrix
Frequency (efficiency)
Jalen Brunson
Shot distribution map
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shot distribution map
Remember: players generally prefer and perform better when shooting from the wing opposite their shooting hands because doing so naturally aligns their hips and elbows with the trajectory towards the rim. For example, you can use Brunson’s shot distribution map to guess he’s a southpaw. Source: Cleaning the Glass
Part II: Thought Expansion
As you can see, their shot profiles are almost perfectly mirrored. Why does this make so much sense? Think about it.
What makes Brunson and Gilgeous-Alexander great players?
No scoring weakness for the defense to force them to
Excellent finishing & touch for their size near the rim
Fantastic short-mid shooting efficiency (especially on the move)
Now, what makes them elite players?
Premier footwork
Rapid change of pace and direction (jump-stop off two feet, euro-step in transition)
Masterful manipulation (head fake, turnaround fake into up & under)
Sure, those make sense perhaps to varying degrees between the two of them. But even with those attributes, why would smaller, leaner players like them opt for so many scoring attempts in the burly forest surrounding the rim?
The paint is where there's a bigger, more consistent reward for their superpower — manipulation.
Tighter spaces give defenses smaller margins of error to avoid fouling
Shorter distances to the cup create closer ("easier" is probably not the correct term) shots if enough separation is created
Simply put, they’re able to generate more free throws and closer shots by driving downhill and using their manipulation techniques as relentlessly as they do. When comparing their shot distributions to preview the playoffs, I had a small eureka moment and felt compelled to outline this schematic analysis - largely because I haven’t caught wind of others spotlighting this eerie similarity.
These are the types of strategic insights that get me excited because they can equip further analyses and discussions on potential trade fits, matchup projections, and more.
