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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making the most of his NBA Finals debut — and then some. With back-to-back scoring explosions, the Oklahoma City Thunder star has dropped 72 points through two games, the most ever for a player’s first Finals appearances. It’s a start that puts him in a league of his own — literally.
Following a 38-point outing in Game 1, SGA added another 34 in Game 2, pushing the Thunder into a commanding position in the series and adding weight to an already MVP-laced season.
Poise, Precision, and Rare Company
The playoffs are where legends are made, and Gilgeous-Alexander is building something unforgettable. His Game 2 performance marked his ninth straight 30-point game at home during this postseason — a feat matched only by Wilt Chamberlain.
That wasn’t the only history he touched. His 11th playoff game with at least 30 points and five assists puts him alongside just two names: LeBron James and Michael Jordan, the only players to post that stat line across multiple postseason runs. Now, Shai joins them — doing it all in one year.
He’s also overtaken Jalen Brunson to lead the 2025 playoffs in total points with 516 — and he’s doing it efficiently, methodically, and with calm under pressure.
Carrying the MVP Weight Without Flinching
Oklahoma City has been one of the season’s biggest stories — a team built through draft picks, development, and smart roster decisions. But none of it clicks quite like it does without SGA.
After topping the league in scoring and earning All-NBA First Team honors, Gilgeous-Alexander was crowned 2025 NBA MVP. Now he’s backing it up when it matters most — on the Finals stage, with everything on the line.
He’s been more than a star — he’s been the catalyst, the closer, and the calm in the chaos. This isn’t just a standout playoff run — it’s the kind of campaign that redefines how we view a player’s prime.
A Legendary Season in Motion
With his Game 2 performance, Gilgeous-Alexander crossed the 3,000-point mark for the season, combining regular-season and playoff totals — a rare threshold that speaks to his durability and dominance.
He’s in the middle of a potential sweep of awards and achievements that only a handful of players have ever sniffed: scoring champ, league MVP, All-NBA First Team, Western Conference Finals MVP, Finals MVP, and a championship ring. If he pulls it off, he’s not just having a great season — he’s carving out an all-time one.
The Style That Sets Him Apart
What makes SGA so difficult to stop is how quietly devastating he is. He doesn’t bulldoze defenders or launch endless deep threes. He operates with rhythm, footwork, and angles — a smooth, deliberate style that picks apart defenses possession by possession.
In crunch time, he’s nearly automatic — from free throws to fadeaways, Gilgeous-Alexander has been OKC’s go-to weapon. And his game comes without flash or self-promotion. He leads with calm, earns respect, and delivers under pressure.
Three Wins Away
With a 2–0 lead and the series shifting cities, the Thunder are three victories from a title. The environment will change, and the stakes will rise — but if this postseason has revealed anything, it’s that Gilgeous-Alexander has the mindset and skill to meet the moment.
What began as a breakout season has turned into something more — a defining stretch that could mark the beginning of a new era in the league.
For now, SGA isn’t just leading the Thunder — he’s putting the entire NBA on notice.
