Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is doing that thing again. You know, the thing where he glides to the rim like he’s on a conveyor belt, draws a foul you didn't even see coming, and somehow ends the night with 31 points on 14 shots. It’s effortless. It’s almost boring if it wasn't so surgically precise.
Honestly, looking at shai stats this season, we’re witnessing a level of efficiency that shouldn't exist for a guard. Usually, when a guy scores this much, his efficiency dips. Not Shai. He’s currently averaging 31.6 points per game while shooting a staggering 54.5% from the field.
He isn't just a scorer anymore. He’s the engine of a Thunder team that’s sitting at 35-7, comfortably atop the Western Conference. If you haven't been paying attention to the MVP race, it’s basically Shai and Nikola Jokic playing a high-stakes game of "who can be more perfect?" and right now, Shai has a very real case for the lead.
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The Ridiculous Efficiency of Shai Stats This Season
Most "volume scorers" are somewhat inefficient by nature. They take the tough shots. They force the issue. Shai? He just waits. He’s shooting 59.7% on two-pointers. For a 6-foot-6 guard, that is genuinely absurd. It’s the kind of number you expect from a center who only dunks, not a guy who lives in the mid-range and the "floater zone."
His three-point shot has finally become a weapon people have to fear, too. He's hitting 39.2% from deep on five attempts per game. That’s the highest mark of his career. It’s basically game-over for defenders. If you play off him, he hits the triple. If you press up, he’s past you before you can blink.
- PPG: 31.6 (2nd in the NBA)
- FG%: 54.5%
- FT%: 88.6%
- True Shooting: 66.1%
The craziest part of shai stats this season is the "fourth quarter" problem. Or rather, the lack of one. Because the Thunder are blowing teams out so badly—they have a league-best +13.2 net rating—Shai has sat out the entire fourth quarter 17 times already. Imagine what his numbers would look like if he actually had to play those extra ten minutes. He’d probably be averaging 38.
Defense and the "Two-Way" Narrative
People love to talk about Shai’s offense, but his defensive metrics are what’s keeping him ahead in the MVP conversation. He isn't just a "stocks" (steals + blocks) merchant, though 1.4 steals and nearly a block per game are great. It's the positioning.
The Thunder have the #1 defense in the NBA, allowing just 107.7 points per game. Shai is a huge part of that. He uses those long arms to disrupt passing lanes and switch onto bigger wings without breaking a sweat. His Defensive Box Plus-Minus (DBPM) is sitting at 3.2, which is essentially unheard of for a primary ball-handler.
Is the MVP Race Already Over?
Not even close. Jokic is still Jokic, and Luka is putting up historic numbers with the Lakers. But the narrative is firmly on Shai’s side. He’s the best player on the best team. He’s historically efficient. He’s a two-way menace.
There was some drama recently when he barely kept his 20-point streak alive against Houston, getting his 20th point in the final minutes of a blowout. That streak now sits at 112 consecutive games. He’s chasing Wilt Chamberlain's record of 126. It's the kind of consistency that makes voters' lives very easy.
He did have a small scare with an ankle sprain in early January, missing a game against Memphis. But he came back against Miami and looked like he hadn't missed a beat, dropping 29 points and 8 assists. He’s durable. He’s relentless. He’s basically the perfect modern basketball player.
What to Watch for the Rest of the Year
The Thunder are on pace for 68+ wins. If they hit that mark and Shai maintains these numbers, he’s the MVP. Period. Watch his three-point percentage specifically. If that stays near 40%, there is no defensive scheme in the league that can stop him.
He’s also looking to join the 50/40/90 club, though his free throw shooting (88.6%) is just a hair below the 90% threshold. Honestly, even if he doesn't hit those specific round numbers, the "eye test" tells you everything you need to know.
If you're following the Thunder's progress, keep an eye on how the team handles his minutes. Mark Daigneault has been careful with him, but as the playoffs approach, we might see "Aggressive Shai" more often. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
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Check out the upcoming Thunder schedule and see if Shai can keep the 20-point streak alive against Miami and San Antonio. If he breaks Wilt's record, you're looking at an all-time historic season that will be talked about for decades.