Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s expertise isn’t in query, however his strategies are the topic of livid debate. His first two video games of the 2025-26 season will do nothing to alter that. On Thursday evening, the reigning MVP confirmed precisely why he is essentially the most irritating participant within the league to protect.
Gilgeous-Alexander poured in a career-high 55 factors within the Thunder’s 141-135 double-overtime win over the Indiana Pacers — the Thunder are the primary staff in NBA historical past to go to double-overtime in every of their first two video games of a season — on 15 of 31 from the sphere and 23 of 26 from the free throw line. He additionally added eight rebounds and 5 assists.
His 55 factors on Thursday have been the third-most by a Thunder participant for the reason that staff moved to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008, and he is already as much as 90 factors for the season. Solely Wilt Chamberlain, Anthony Davis and Michael Jordan have scored extra within the first two video games of a season in NBA historical past.
Gilgeous-Alexander can be already 33 of 40 from the free throw line. His 23 makes and 26 makes an attempt in opposition to the Pacers have been each career-highs, and his 40 makes an attempt are essentially the most by a participant within the first two video games of a season in NBA historical past. He clearly will not common 20 free throws over the course of the season, however he already has a large lead in that division and is as soon as once more on tempo to be among the many league leaders.
Since Gilgeous-Alexander emerged as an All-Star in the course of the 2022-23 season, he has completed third, second and second in whole free throw makes an attempt during the last three seasons. Throughout that point, solely Giannis Antetokounmpo (2,261) has shot extra free throws than Gilgeous-Alexander (2,057). Nobody else even had 1,700.
Free throw makes an attempt from 2022-23 to 2024-25 season
At occasions, the dialogue about Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential to get to the road can go too far and overshadow his distinctive items as a scorer and athlete. Thursday evening’s displaying, nevertheless, was a reminder of why it retains arising.
It isn’t simply that Gilgeous-Alexander shoots so many free throws — it is how he will get to the road. Whereas Antetokounmpo bullies his method there with brute power, Gilgeous-Alexander is a trickster. He fools defenders (and infrequently officers) with an array of hesitations, fakes and pivots.
No participant makes opponents shake their heads or elevate their arms in dismay extra usually than Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers spent seven consecutive video games guarding him within the Finals only a few months in the past, and even they could not assist however be deceived.
Here is a sampling from Thursday. Other than the third clip, maybe, all of those are clear fouls. However that does not make them any much less irritating for the Pacers.
Simply take a look at Jarace Walker‘s face after the one in time beyond regulation.
Nothing sums up the expertise of attempting to defend Gilgeous-Alexander higher than that.
