How a 2-time MVP helped shape Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA journey

On his way to NBA superstardom, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had to go through an unconventional route. He didn't speed through the freeway. Instead, he took a couple of right turns and a few left turns on bumpy backroads.

One person who was at his corner was enough to help him continue. Ahead of their Round 2 series against the Los Angeles Lakers , Gilgeous-Alexander revealed Steve Nash always had his back. All the way back to his high school days — when he wasn't necessarily a highly-touted recruit before he landed at Kentucky.

Gilgeous-Alexander eventually did enough in his sole collegiate season to land No. 11 in the 2018 NBA draft. From there, it would take four NBA seasons for him to become a household name.

Within the blink of an eye, though, he went from a first-time All-Star to probable back-to-back MVP winner, sharing the same sentences as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Going back to his first interactions with Nash, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke fondly of the two-time MVP winner. At a young age, he encouraged the 6-foot-6 guard that he was on the right pathway.