Counting stats don’t always represent a player’s value to a team, but in the Thunder’s case, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact shines through in a box score.
61 years later, Gilgeous-Alexander reaches extraordinary NBA feat

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, the All-Star guard scored or assisted on at least 35 points for the 59th straight game in his team’s 121-105 rout of the Kings. He became just the third player in NBA history to maintain the remarkable streak, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.

OKC (60-12) has 10 games left in the season. If SGA were to maintain the streak for another seven games, he’d set an NBA record.

Speaking of streaks, Gilgeous-Alexander’s 32-point performance gave him his 65th consecutive 20-point game of the season.

As a result, he overtook fellow Thunder icon Kevin Durant’s streak of 64 consecutive 20-point games reached in the 2015-16 season. SGA now trails Michael Jordan by just five games for fourth on the list.

While SGA is proud of his accolades, the Toronto native isn’t taking his eye away from the real prize — the NBA title. After Tuesday’s win, he showed tremendous self-awareness with his comments.

The Incredible Rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – LWOSports

“There’s a lot more work to be done. We haven’t done anything,” SGA said. “We haven’t achieved half of our goals. We know there’s a lot more work to be done, and we’ll do it.”

As for surpassing Durant for the streak of 20-point games, SGA again shone a light on the team more than himself.

“It starts with my teammates and the organization trusting me to go out there and be the player I am,” he said. “Without that runway, without the ball in my hand, I’m not that guy.”

Tuesday’s win was significant for several other reasons. By reaching 60 wins in 72 games, OKC became the eighth fastest (and youngest) to reach the threshold.

All that team success has become too overbearing for voters to ignore when they pick this season’s MVP. Furthermore, with Nikola Jokic missing five straight games with an ankle issue, SGA has all but sealed his first MVP award — a well-deserved honor.