By Matija Šerić
After 26 games of the regular season, the Western Conference leader is Oklahoma City, boasting 24 wins and only two losses. Such an outstanding record of 92% wins is truly impressive and has placed the Thunder at the top of the league. Following them are the Detroit Pistons with a 21-5 record and the Denver Nuggets with 19 wins and six losses. While all players on the roster contribute, the main reason for Oklahoma’s brilliant play and results is none other than the Canadian basketball maestro, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After an excellent last season, where he was Season MVP, Finals MVP, and the league’s top scorer, the Canadian continues this year in the same rhythm.
Numbers as Proof of Greatness
SGA continuously impresses fans night after night. His current stats speak for themselves. In all 25 games he has played, he has been a starter. On average, he has spent 33.2 minutes on the court, scoring 32.4 points per game (second in the league, just behind Luka Dončić), with a total shooting percentage of 56% (12th in the league). On top of such a high percentage, he adds a significant number of three-pointers. He shoots between 2.2 and 5 three-point attempts per game, with a three-point percentage of 43.7%. This season, he continues to shine from the free-throw line, with an 88.4% success rate, taking between 8.6 and 9.7 free throws per game. He truly earns the nickname Free Throw Merchant, as his dynamic play often draws fouls from opponents. He also averages 6.4 assists (15th in the league), 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.
Rockets-OKC highlights
A Magnificent Start to the Season
Although he won the most prestigious individual awards and the team championship with Oklahoma last season, his basketball hunger remains undiminished. The 27-year-old Canadian point guard, in short, delivers exactly what he is paid for. Just a few days after winning the title, on July 1, he signed a new four-year contract with the Thunder worth $285 million—$195,000 per day. He entered the new season highly motivated. In the season opener against the Houston Rockets on October 21 at the Paycom Center, he scored 35 points, including two game-winning free throws, for a 125-124 double-overtime victory.
Two days later, the Thunder defeated the Pacers 141-135 in another overtime game, a repeat of last season’s finals matchup. SGA scored a career-high 55 points, making 23 of 26 free throws, and added five assists, eight rebounds, and two steals. OKC became the first NBA team to play two overtime games in its first two matches of the season. With 55 points, SGA recorded the third-highest single-game scoring in Thunder history. With 90 points in the first two games, he became the fifth-most prolific scorer in NBA history over the first two games of a season.
SGA’s 55 points againt Pacers
Consistency – A Hallmark of True Superstars
Gilgeous-Alexander did not settle for a phenomenal start and has continued to perform at a high level in all other games. For example, against the LA Clippers on November 4, he scored 30 points and added 12 assists. This marked his 80th consecutive game scoring 20+ points. SGA’s performance was a key factor in Oklahoma starting the season with an 8-0 record. In the victory over Portland on November 30 (123-115), he scored 26 points, extending his streak to 93 games with 20+ points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s previous streak of 92 games. The only one left to surpass is Chamberlain himself, who had 126 consecutive 20+ point games.
On December 10, in a dominant 138-89 win over the Phoenix Suns, Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma to the longest winning streak in franchise history—16 consecutive wins. At that point, the Thunder had a 24-1 record, equaling the best start to a regular season in NBA history, alongside the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. However, on December 13, in the NBA Cup semifinals, Oklahoma lost to the San Antonio Spurs 111-109 in a tight, competitive match. SGA contributed 29 points and five assists, but it was not enough.
Shai Drops 38 In Thunder’s 13th Straight Win
Oklahoma’s Excellent Roster
While Gilgeous-Alexander is the face of the Thunder and one of the most recognizable NBA stars, the rest of the roster deserves praise, as their contributions allow the star playmaker to shine. Alongside SGA, the core trio includes center Chet Holmgren and shooter Jalen Williams. In 22 games, Holmgren averages 18.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Williams missed the start of the season due to injuries, appearing in only 19 games, averaging 17.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in seven games played since his return in late November. In 20 games, the brilliant center Isaiah Hartenstein averages 12.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Shooting guard Luguentz Dort averages 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17 games, while Ajay Mitchell averages 14 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 26 games. Other contributors include Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, and more. All are guided by coaching expert Mark Daigneault.
SGA as an Efficient Team Player
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a phenomenal player because he is one of the most efficient in modern basketball. His 56% shooting rate and the large number of free throws he draws with his drives and mid-range attacks demonstrate this. He is effective in all areas of the court, whether finishing at the rim or shooting from outside, including three-pointers. His court awareness makes him a strong offensive rebounder. His best asset is his ball control, rarely turning it over. With precise passing, he is hard to beat. He averages only 1.9 turnovers per game, which is very low considering the difficulty of his passes. SGA contributes on defense as well, making it hard for even elite shooters like Amen Thompson to get past him, potentially placing him among the league’s top defensive lineups.
SGA is better this season than last, which means only one thing: Oklahoma City is objectively the favorite to win a new NBA title. The Thunder are young, and the SGA (27), Holmgren (23), and Williams (24) trio could build a dynasty that will dominate the NBA in the coming years—something that adds even more excitement to an already thrilling season under the hoop.
