In 2000, Shaquille O’Neal had one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history. He won the scoring title, regular season MVP, and NBA Finals MVP, leading the Lakers to a championship.
This rare trifecta had only been achieved by three players: O’Neal, Michael Jordan (four times), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Since then, no player has repeated that feat—until now, perhaps.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, at just 26 years old, is making a run at history with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He has the team on the brink of their first NBA title since the franchise relocated from Seattle, with Game 3 of the Finals set to take place in Indianapolis.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey is more than impressive; it’s one of the most exciting in recent NBA memory.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Dominance in the NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on fire throughout the NBA Finals, showing the league that he belongs among the game’s greatest.
He has already scored 72 points in the first two games of the Finals, setting a new record for the most points ever scored by a player in their first two career Finals games.
His ability to consistently score, topping 30 points in every game so far, is a testament to his skill and focus. He is averaging over 30 points per game in the postseason, putting the Thunder in an excellent position to win it all.
“I’m being myself,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after Game 2. “I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far.”
A Two-Way Player Like No Other
But Gilgeous-Alexander’s game isn’t just about scoring. He’s also making a significant impact on defense, contributing seven steals so far in the Finals.
This makes him one of just four players in Finals history to post back-to-back games with 30+ points and three or more steals—joining the ranks of Rick Barry, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James.
“He just continues to progress and improve and rise to every occasion,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Yeah, unsurprising at this point. It’s just kind of what he does.”
His ability to excel on both ends of the floor makes him an incredibly rare player in today’s NBA, especially as a point guard.
The last player to be the clear leader of a championship-winning team at the point guard position was Steph Curry, but Gilgeous-Alexander has the chance to do it at an even younger age.
A Historic Season
Gilgeous-Alexander’s exceptional performance isn’t just limited to the Finals. His entire season has been one for the ages.
He’s become the 12th player in NBA history to score more than 3,000 points across the regular season and playoffs, joining legends like Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kobe Bryant.
“Shai, you can mark down 34 points before they even get on the plane for the next game,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after Game 2. “The guy’s going to score. We’ve got to find ways to make it as tough as possible on him.”
A Team Built for the Future
What makes this run even more impressive is that Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the youngest team in the NBA. With players like 24-year-old Jalen Williams and 23-year-old Chet Holmgren alongside him, the Thunder have arrived much earlier than expected.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the steady force that has propelled the team forward, leading them toward a potential championship at just 26 years old.
The Potential for a Historic Championship
If Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder can complete the journey and secure an NBA championship, it would be more than just a historic achievement for the team.
It would cement Gilgeous-Alexander’s place as one of the best players of his generation and one of the most impressive individual seasons in NBA history.
This isn’t just a breakout year; it’s a season that could change the course of the league for years to come.
