Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etched himself into the history books Thursday night.
After surpassing the 20-point mark during the Thunder’s 104-102 win over the Celtics, Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed Hall of Fame big man Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive games (127) with at least 20 points scored.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with a team-high 35 points, broke the record with a 3-point shot to start the third quarter after hitting two free throws on the Thunder’s previous possession.
The four-time All-Star’s streak dates back to the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in a 137-114 win over the Trail Blazers on Nov. 1, 2024.
Chamberlain held the record with 126 straight games since 1963, with the 13-time All-Star holding the next highest streak at 92 that started the following year. Legendary point guard Oscar Robertson went for 79 straight games in 1963-64.
In the modern era, Kevin Durant had 72 straight games hitting the 20-point mark in 2015-16.
Before breaking Chamberlain’s record, Gilgeous-Alexander referred to the four-time MVP as a “mythical creature,” but admitted he did not know much about him.
“Not much besides he was pretty insanely dominant,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN. “Based on the stats, did whatever he wanted and was like … honestly, it feels almost like a mythical creature.
“It’s not real.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is having another MVP-caliber season for Oklahoma City, averaging 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field through 54 games played this season, helping lead the Thunder to an NBA-best 51-15 record headed into Thursday’s game.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently told reporters how Gilgeous-Alexander thrives under pressure, saying that he can always mentally stay in the game.
“He never presses,” Daigneault told reporters, according to ClutchPoints. “He’s just got unbelievable awareness of the circumstance, awareness of the length of the game; I think that’s one of his superpowers. He understands how long the game is. So, he can make the right play, knowing that he’ll get his cracks. If he misses shots early, he knows that there’s more game left.
“He always stays in it mentally. I think that’s part of the reason why he’s consistent as he is.”
