NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
**Get NBA League Pass TODAY >**
**OKLAHOMA CITY—** The standard NBA pregame warmup routine is so universally replicated across the league that it often feels like a program on repeat. A player stands beyond the 3-point line, receives a pass from an assistant, and takes shot after shot—from the deep corners or the top of the key. Some players perform this monotonous task while wearing wireless headphones, effectively tuning out the rest of the court.
However, everything shifts when Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steps out of the locker room. Before the game even tips off, even before he goes on to score 30 points or more against an unsuspecting opponent, he distinguishes himself from the crowd. He has been doing this consistently all season long.
His first shot? Right in front of the hoop. He takes several more from a few steps back, followed by additional shots around the free throw line. His wrist remains perfectly cocked, his shooting form unwavering, with the ball seldom grazing the rim. Swish, swish, swish—each shot a testament to his preparation.
Next, mid-range jumpers start to rain down from all angles. Following that, he launches 3-pointers from beyond the arc. Finally, he reverses his routine, flowing back through the same motions until the last five-footer falls softly through the net. And then he’s gone.
He has covered all the vital shooting spots within 25 feet of the basket. No area was neglected. It was a masterclass in how to prepare for scoring virtually at will. Later that evening, Gilgeous-Alexander would imprint his influence on the game. His warmup footprints lingered all over the court.
“I have my routine,” he explained, adhering strictly to the methods that successful individuals in any field tend to follow.
This meticulous attention to detail, down to the tiniest aspects, is what positions Gilgeous-Alexander as the league’s leading scorer this season and a front-runner for Most Valuable Player honors.
The warmup is merely an appetizer, a precursor to what follows when the game begins—a culmination of efforts leading to a career-defining breakout that was anticipated but perhaps underestimated.
One defining moment for Gilgeous-Alexander this season—a sequence that could well be etched onto the Kia MVP trophy if he clinches the award—resulted in precisely zero points for him. However, in another sense, he scored significant points through execution.
This occurred on January 5 against the defending champion Celtics, sparked by … a missed shot from Gilgeous-Alexander. The Celtics quickly transitioned, leading to a drive from Jayson Tatum for what seemed to be an easy layup, only it got swatted away by Gilgeous-Alexander in a breathtaking chase-down block.
Following that, he snatched the loose ball, sped up the court, and delivered a lob pass for a highlight-reel bucket that sent the crowd in OKC into a frenzy. In that instant, it became clear to all that this player was having a truly exceptional season.
When pressed for a comment, Gilgeous-Alexander downplayed the moment: “I’m good at basketball.”
WHAT A SEQUENCE FOR THE THUNDER 😱
SGA blocks it then lobs it up to Hartenstein!
CROWD BUZZING… OKC UP 9 ON NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/cTXCg6bkE1
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2025
Certainly, it was a remarkable display of defense and court awareness. Yet, Gilgeous-Alexander earns his accolades because he knows how to score. What stands out is the diverse array of ways he can do so:
• **At the Rim:** Gilgeous-Alexander is among the league’s top finishers, demonstrating exceptional balance, fearlessness in navigating traffic, and superb control. His delicate touches with both hands allow him to challenge larger opponents, absorbing contact and finishing with an and-1 opportunity. This leads directly to…
• **Free Throws:** The Thunder guard ranks second in the league for free throw attempts. While some criticize this, akin to past critiques leveled at James Harden and Karl Malone during their scoring reigns, these opportunities represent easy points. They also draw fouls on defenders, thereby creating mismatches. Not to mention, Gilgeous-Alexander boasts an impressive free throw percentage of 90.3%.
• **Mid-Range:** This area is his forte, and it’s served him well in the current 3-point era, where this zone is often left unguarded. He developed a taste for mid-range shots early in his career, spurred on by Sam Cassell, a former Clippers assistant and mid-range expert. Gilgeous-Alexander learned even more about the value of this shot during his tenure with Chris Paul in Oklahoma City.
• **3-Pointers:** He isn’t a high-volume shooter from long distance—you won’t catch him launching from the logo like Stephen Curry or Damian Lillard—but he still poses a threat. His efficiency stands at a respectable 37% this season and 35.3% for his career. He remains confident and ready to take the shot when given the opportunity.
**Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot chart (through March 24, 2025).**
Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander excels at creating space through quick footwork, changes in speed, and clever deception, including his signature shoulder bump. By subtly lowering his body and establishing legal contact—just enough to avoid a referee’s whistle—he creates openings for his shot.
“Growing up, I had to find methods to score, and this was one that naturally developed for me,” he recalled. “It became a significant part of my game.”
With such a varied scoring arsenal, Gilgeous-Alexander embodies a blend of old-school artistry and modern efficiency. His approach is timeless and resonates regardless of the era. His fluid scoring style minimizes unnecessary movement.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives me, moving in the direction they guide me and responding to the flow of the game,” he said, reflecting a free-spirited mindset that has shaped him into the player he is today.
This diverse skill set positions him as not only the league’s leading scorer at 33 points per game but also one of the hardest players to stop. As Nuggets coach Michael Malone noted: “I haven’t seen a single player contain him one-on-one and shut him down. Not one.”
Perhaps this is due to Gilgeous-Alexander reaching that elite superstar level where most players no longer attempt to guard him solo, or at least not as frequently.
He excels at the two essential elements of scoring: creating space and shooting effectively. The combination of these leads to high efficiency. Anyone can score 25 points on 27 shots, but it’s the efficiency that contextualizes his season historically.
“Sometimes you have to shoot a three, but scoring near the rim is the highest percentage opportunity,” he explained. “Jump shots tend to fluctuate, regardless of your shooting prowess. I’ve always maintained that and prefer to rely on more reliable percentages.”
His top scoring outings this season surpass what many players achieve in their entire careers. He had a 40-point game where he only took five free throws (and converted all of them). During a seven-game stretch, he hit 50 points in three of those games. He has achieved four 50-point performances this season, with none prior.
He leads the league in games scoring 50, 40, 30, and 20 points, having been limited to under 20 points only once this season (back in October against Orlando).
Moreover, to bolster his MVP-worthy resume, his most impressive performances come in critical matchups against strong opponents, the only exception being the Emirates NBA Cup final against the Bucks, where he shot 8-for-24. Since then, he has rebounded remarkably, notching 40 points against Minnesota and Cleveland, 52 against the Warriors, 48 against Detroit, 40 against Denver, and so on.
“I thrive on competition; I love matching up against the best to gauge my own abilities,” he said.
Outdueling two-time MVP Nikola Jokic could prove challenging, but Oklahoma City’s rising star possesses the stats and victories to pose a credible threat to the Denver superstar.
The quality of NBA scouting has reached unprecedented heights, making it rare for players to elude detection. Most projections tend to be accurate.
Yet, no one anticipated this level of performance from Gilgeous-Alexander. Not the Clippers, who drafted him in a trade with Charlotte on draft day in 2018, only to send him to Oklahoma City in exchange for Paul George a year later. Not even the Thunder, who considered the five first-round picks and two swaps they also acquired to be of equal or greater importance than Gilgeous-Alexander.
Doc Rivers, his former coach with the Clippers, stated: “We believed he had potential to be really, really good. I thought he could be a star. But I don’t think anyone could honestly say they foresaw him becoming this special.”
A potential All-Star? Perhaps. All-NBA? Maybe that was his ceiling. But being a serious MVP contender for the second year in a row and leading the scoring charts? That wasn’t on anyone’s radar.
Rivers warned Kawhi Leonard—a driving force behind the Clippers’ pursuit of George—that Gilgeous-Alexander had immense potential. However, Kawhi didn’t want to gamble on potential.
Like many young athletes, Gilgeous-Alexander spent his early years trying to carve out his niche and reputation in the league. He sought stardom, but it required a strategic process.
“I struggled with insecurities,” he admitted. “Part of that stems from my training to work through my insecurities. You work on your skills diligently, gaining confidence that eventually overshadows those insecurities. I consider myself secure both on and off the court now, but it wasn’t always that way. I had to confront those issues. Once you accept and tackle them, they transform into strengths.”
Beginning with 10.8 points per game as a rookie with the Clippers, where he was a secondary option, his scoring input progressed gradually and then dramatically: 19 points in his first season with the Thunder (his second overall), 31 points three seasons later, and now consistently over 30.
This year, his contributions extend beyond just scoring. Gilgeous-Alexander is a nuisance on the league’s top-rated Thunder defense, likely finishing among the top five in steals and ranking highly among guards for blocks.
This balance of offense and defense, combined with Oklahoma City’s top position in the Western Conference, could provide Gilgeous-Alexander with the edge he needs over the MVP competition, determined by a media panel.
“It’s an honor to be mentioned in this discussion,” he stated. “Most of the credit goes to my teammates. Regardless of my individual talent, if we aren’t winning, we wouldn’t even be in this conversation. The focus for me is on winning and being the best version of myself for the team, wherever that leads me.”
OKC head coach Mark Daigneault shared: “What I admire most about Shai is that he hasn’t allowed the MVP talk to distract him. His attention remains on our team, and our success reflects that.”
A truth prevails here: Gilgeous-Alexander naturally possesses a laid-back demeanor. If there’s any substantial ego, it stays in check. He commands respect and affection from his teammates, mostly young and impressionable—an excellent indicator of a player’s character.
He would certainly welcome the MVP honor—who wouldn’t?—but the most underrated individual accolade is the Finals MVP, awarded to a player on the championship team every time except once (Jerry West, 1969). Gilgeous-Alexander is curious about the weight of those trophies, and there’s only one way to find out.
In the interim, can he lay claim to the title of Most Valuable Player for 2024-25? Is he a generational talent? One of the league’s main faces? Much like the basketball he handles with such ease, those accolades seem to align well with him at this moment.
“The recognition signifies that you’re among the top three to five players in the league,” he remarked. “All those accolades are exciting and enjoyable. But ultimately, winning championships is what separates you in these conversations. Focus on that, and everything else will fall into place.”
* * *
Shaun Powell has written extensively about the NBA for over 25 years. You can reach him via e-mail, explore his article archive, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
