The Oklahoma City Thunder are about to face a significant test, and they’ll have to do it without their MVP frontrunner. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to miss at least the next five games after suffering an abdominal strain during OKC’s dominant win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. The team announced that SGA will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break, meaning he’ll not only miss critical regular-season matchups but also won’t suit up for the World team in the All-Star Game, where he was slated to start.
That’s a blow for fans hoping to see Gilgeous-Alexander shine on the league’s biggest midseason stage, but it opens the door for a replacement selection-likely from a pool that includes notable snubs like Houston’s Alperen Sengün and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid. Commissioner Adam Silver now has a decision to make, and either of those names would bring plenty of star power to the World roster.
As for SGA, there’s no immediate concern about his MVP eligibility. He’s appeared in 49 of the Thunder’s 51 games so far, and even with the five games he’s projected to miss before the break, he’ll remain well within the 65-game threshold required for award consideration. If the Thunder decide to play it safe and hold him out through the end of February, he’d still only be at 12 missed games-comfortably under the 17-game maximum.
That’s important, because Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just in the MVP conversation-he’s leading it. His combination of scoring efficiency, playmaking, and defensive impact has anchored Oklahoma City’s rise in the Western Conference.
His closest competition? Denver’s Nikola Jokić, who’s already missed 16 games this season.
One more, and he’d fall short of eligibility. That context makes SGA’s durability all the more valuable in the MVP race.
But while the individual accolades matter, the Thunder have a more immediate challenge: navigating a tough stretch without their star. Their next four games come against Western Conference playoff teams-the Spurs, Rockets, Lakers, and Suns-before wrapping up the pre-All-Star schedule with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. That’s a gauntlet for any team, let alone one missing its engine.
The good news? Oklahoma City has shown it can hold its own without Gilgeous-Alexander, going 2-0 in his absence this season with wins over the Grizzlies and Jazz.
But let’s be honest-those aren’t the same kind of tests they’re about to face. This upcoming run will be a real measure of the Thunder’s depth and resilience.
Players like Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, and Chet Holmgren will need to shoulder more of the load, both offensively and defensively. The Thunder’s system is built on ball movement, pace, and defensive tenacity, and while SGA is the centerpiece, this team has prided itself on its collective approach. Still, there’s no replacing what he brings to the floor-his ability to control tempo, create mismatches, and deliver in crunch time.
So while the Thunder will be hoping for a quick and full recovery for their star guard, the next five games will offer a valuable look at how ready this young squad is to weather adversity. If they can hold the line without their MVP, it’ll only strengthen their case as a legitimate threat in the West-and bolster Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP campaign in the process.