Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Isn’t Gaming the System-He’s Mastering It
LAS VEGAS, NV - The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to a blistering 24-1 start, one of the best in NBA history, and at the center of it all is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The All-NBA guard continues to elevate his game in ways that are turning heads across the league-whether it’s his surgical scoring, his improved efficiency, or, yes, his ability to get to the free throw line.
That last part? It’s sparked plenty of debate.
Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently ranked among the league leaders in free throw attempts, and while some see it as a sign of offensive mastery, others have painted it as a flaw in the system-a loophole he’s exploiting. But according to Hall of Famer and NBA on Prime analyst Dwyane Wade, that criticism misses the point.
Wade, who built a Hall of Fame career in part by mastering the art of drawing contact, sees Gilgeous-Alexander’s foul-drawing ability not as manipulation, but as a skill-one that only a few elite scorers have ever truly mastered.
“I actually think it’s a great thing that he’s learned this skill,” Wade said. “Only a few-like James Harden in Houston-really had it.
He’s found a way to manipulate the game and use the rules to his advantage. That’s not a bad thing.
If he’s playing within the rules and using them to his advantage, that’s just smart basketball.”
And that’s exactly what Gilgeous-Alexander is doing.
He’s not flopping. He’s not baiting defenders into cheap calls.
He’s creating angles, keeping defenders off balance, and forcing them into tough decisions. It’s a chess match, and more often than not, he’s three moves ahead.
“The more you talk about it, actually, the worse it gets,” Wade added. “Because the players get more anxious guarding him.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Steve Nash link up after the Thunder-Spurs NBA Cup semifinal.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2025
The Canadian connection 🇨🇦
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/Ore5bqCQUz
So credit to him for having so much in his bag that he can do anything on the floor. He keeps defenders off-balance so much that he’s able to get angles on them, put them in uncomfortable situations, and take advantage when they’re not chest-to-chest in front of him.”
And let’s be clear-this isn’t just about drawing fouls. Gilgeous-Alexander is putting up MVP-caliber numbers across the board.
Last season, he led the NBA in scoring at 32.7 points per game, while also averaging 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals. He did it all while shooting nearly 52% from the field, 37.5% from deep, and just a tick under 90% from the line. That’s not just good-that’s elite efficiency on elite volume.
This season? He’s somehow gotten even better.
Through the first 25 games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals-despite playing two fewer minutes per night. His shooting splits are even more jaw-dropping: 56% from the field, 43.7% from three, and 88.4% from the free throw line. That’s the kind of efficiency you expect from a role player, not a superstar carrying a championship contender.
And that’s what makes this leap so impressive to Wade.
“It’s just really, really impressive,” Wade said. “Watching him come back this year, after winning the championship, after winning all the awards last year-and seeing him be better at things that maybe weren’t his strengths before? That shows you his commitment to the craft.”
Wade also pointed to the off-court responsibilities that come with stardom-family life, media obligations, the weight of expectations-and how Gilgeous-Alexander has managed to tune out the noise and keep getting better.
“You have to give him so much respect,” Wade said. “Because we know how hard it is to block out everything that’s going on in the world, block out your responsibilities that you have at home as a father, and still be getting better at your craft after all the success.
He’s special. And I think this year, we’re getting a chance to really see just how special.”
The Thunder, meanwhile, are looking every bit the part of a team ready to defend their title. If they keep up this pace, they could become the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships since the Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018.
And if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps playing like this, the conversation around him won’t be about how many free throws he takes-it’ll be about how he’s shaping the next era of NBA superstardom.