Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Chasing History-and Catching Legends Along the Way
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just playing great basketball-he’s building a legacy in real time. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is coming off a season that would make even the most decorated Hall of Famers take notice: 32.7 points per game, 68 regular season wins, the second-best net rating in NBA history, and-most importantly-the franchise’s first-ever championship.
And that’s just the headline.
Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t just lead. He dominated.
In doing so, he joined an elite trio-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal-as the only players in NBA history to win the scoring title, regular season MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season. That’s not just rarefied air-it’s basketball royalty.
At 27, he’s in the heart of his prime, and instead of coasting on accolades, he’s chasing history with the same relentless pace he shows attacking the rim. One of the milestones in his sights? A scoring streak that dates back to the days of black-and-white television.
The Wilt Watch
Right now, Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 121 consecutive regular season games, a streak that began on November 1, 2024. That puts him within striking distance of the all-time record: 126 straight games with 20+ points, held-of course-by Wilt Chamberlain.
Now, Chamberlain’s run technically ended on January 20, 1963, when he left a game after just four minutes due to illness. If you toss that game aside, his streak would’ve reached 146.
But the record books don’t work on hypotheticals. Availability counts.
You’ve got to be on the court and producing.
If Gilgeous-Alexander returns to action after the All-Star break and keeps his streak alive, he’d officially break Wilt’s record on March 1 against the Mavericks. As for the unofficial 146-game mark?
That would fall on April 12 against the Suns-the Thunder’s final regular season game. That’s a tough ask, especially if OKC locks up seeding early and rests starters.
So while 127 is within reach, 147 might have to wait until next year.
Still, the fact that we’re even talking about a player in the same breath as Wilt Chamberlain says everything about the level Gilgeous-Alexander is operating on.
Shooting for Immortality
And it’s not just volume scoring that sets him apart-it’s how he’s doing it. Efficiency is the name of the game in today’s NBA, and Gilgeous-Alexander is putting up numbers that would make a shooting coach weep with joy: 55.4% from the field, 39% from three, and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
That puts him within shouting distance of the fabled 50/40/90 club-one of the most exclusive stat lines in basketball. Only nine players have ever done it while qualifying in each category: Larry Bird (twice), Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash (four times), Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Malcolm Brogdon, and Kyrie Irving.
It’s a short list, but it reads like a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. If Gilgeous-Alexander can join them, it would be a testament to his evolution-not just as a scorer, but as a complete offensive weapon. His midrange game has always been deadly, but his growth from beyond the arc is what’s putting him on another level.
MVP, Again?
Then there’s the big one: MVP. Gilgeous-Alexander is the odds-on favorite to repeat as the league’s Most Valuable Player. If he pulls it off, he’d become just the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs.
The names on that list? Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokić.
That’s not just a Hall of Fame roster-that’s a Mount Rushmore debate waiting to happen.
The Moment and the Movement
What makes Gilgeous-Alexander’s run even more impressive is how it’s lifting an entire franchise. The Thunder aren’t just winning-they’re building something sustainable around a bona fide superstar. His leadership, consistency, and ability to deliver night in and night out have turned Oklahoma City into a title contender with staying power.
He’s not just chasing records-he’s redefining what’s possible for a mid-market team in the modern NBA. And with every 20-point outing, every efficient shooting night, and every MVP-caliber performance, Gilgeous-Alexander is etching his name deeper into the league’s history books.
So keep an eye on that calendar. March 1 might be the day he catches Wilt.
April 12 could be the day he surpasses him. But no matter when the record falls, one thing’s already clear: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just part of the conversation-he’s becoming the conversation.