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'It’s Just Overall A Smooth Game': Paige Bueckers Draws Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Comp With Glowing Reviews From Candace Parker And Aliyah Boston

Updated Aug. 29, 2025, 6:23 a.m. by Dan Agulto, Hardwood Heroics 1 min read
NBA News

Paige Bueckers is at it again, turning heads faster than a Sonic the Hedgehog spin dash.

The No.

1 draft pick in the WNBA, Bueckers is stacking Rookie of the Year chatter like its a Tetris high score.

But whats got pundits really drooling isnt just the pointsits the posh, smooth flow of her game.

Aliyah Boston broke it down on the Post Moves podcast, saying , I think when you look at Paiges game, its just overall a smooth game.

She takes her time, shes patientwhether she wants to post, the little turnaround jumper, she gets to her mid-range.

I mean, she finds her teammates...

Shes so poised, and she doesnt get sped up.

That kind of composure? Chefs kiss.

Candace Parker followed suit, pointing out how Bueckers mid-range wizardry channels NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In an era where everyones jacking threes or diving for layups, Bueckers is reminding us that the middie still slapsand yes, that makes Paige Bueckers a big deal.

Since that paint-splattering 44-point masterclass on August 20, 2025, her stock skyrocketedshe now holds the rookie single-game scoring record, blurring the Candace Parker benchmark.

Theres your smooth-operator rookie, carving out her own laneand getting respect from legends who know their mid-range clutch from their elbow jumper.

Inside Paige Bueckers Scoring Style Compared to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Breaking down Paige Bueckers scoring style alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives us one of the cleanest comparisons in hoops right now.

Both excel in that underrated 2-point zone, just in slightly different flavors.

Bueckers thrives close to the hoop and from mid-range.

About 76.7% of her shots are inside the arc, with 26.4% coming from mid-rangewhere she absolutely cooks at 61.4% shooting.

That efficiency is no joke.

No.

1 draft pick in the WNBA Paige Bueckers, and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Photo credits: Imagn SGA, meanwhile, tallied 73.7% of his attempts inside the arc in his MVP season.

His paint game is even stronger42.1% in the paintand he nails 78.8% of his unassisted 2-pointers.

And hey, he averaged 32.7 points a game while winning both scoring title and MVP honors.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesnt shoot that many 3s.

And he was the league MVP this year.

Theres still value in that middie.

And Paige Bueckers has a pretty mid-range game.

Candace Parker explained .

This isnt just a surface-level thing: both players prioritize the mid-range slice of the pie, showing that you dont need to be launching threes to make magic happen.

Simple as that.

And dont sleep on Paige Bueckersher scoring craft is shaping up like a mirror of SGAs, just in a rookie package.

Aug 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) shoots a free throw against the Washington Mystics during the second half at College Park Center.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images.

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