Oklahoma City Thunder Point Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history on Monday night. One of the highlight plays was when Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, dropped Milwaukee Bucks Forward Chris Livingston with a behind-the-back move and then laid it easy Thunder bucket. The Thunder defeated the Bucks 125-96 in a blowout at the Paycom Center. Oklahoma City improved to 39-9, while Milwaukee fell to 26-22.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in 22 minutes as the Thunder routed the short-handed Bucks on Monday night. The Bucks were without their star players, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton, which turned what could’ve been an exciting NBA Cup Final rematch into a boring blowout. Here’s what you need to know about Gilgeous-Alexander’s latest achievement.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes NBA History
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history in the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks game at the Paycom Center on Monday night. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points, three rebounds, and six assists in 22 minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander showed the NBA world why he’s a massive favorite to win the 2025 NBA MVP.
On Monday night, OptaSTATS posted on X, “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made 15 field goals for the @okcthunder tonight. He played just 22:24. That’s the fewest minutes played by any player in a game with 15+ FGM since the NBA-ABA merger.” OptaSTATS’ post sparked mixed reviews, with one user writing, “Counting games against hospital teams I see” and another user chiming in with, “Field Goal Merchant.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Stats This Season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stats so far this season are impressive, to put it mildly. Gilgeous-Alexander has been averaging 32.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3% from the field and 35% from downtown. Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 23.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 34.9% from downtown in his career.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. Gilgeous-Alexander was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and played one season at Kentucky before declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft. Gilgeous-Alexander played his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2018-2019 before being traded to the Thunder in July 2019.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Next Steps
Where do the Oklahoma City Thunder go from here? The Thunder lead the Western Conference with the best record, 39-9, at the time of writing. The Thunder’s winning ways are one of the top storylines in the NBA, and they previously set the team record with a 13th consecutive win. They notched a 116-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Paycom Center on January 2, 2025.
The Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns at the Paycom Center on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. Central. The Thunder will seek a three-game winning streak at home, while the Suns look to snap a two-game losing skid on the road. The Suns dropped a 121-119 decision to the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime at the Moda Center on Monday night in the second game of a set in Portland, Oregon.
