Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quietly wrote his name in NBA history books while Jalen Williams stole the spotlight in the Thunder's Game 5 win against the Pacers. Gilgeous Alexander had 31 points, and Jalen Williams had 40 points as the Thunder beat the Pacers 120-109.
Gilgeous-Alexander also had 10 assists and 4 blocks to go with his 31 points as he stuffed the stat sheet. With this performance, he now has 12 games in this Playoff run where he scored 30 points and had at least 5 assists, which is the most by any player in NBA history. He beat LeBron James and Michael Jordan, who were tied for the record at 11, and now single-handedly holds this record in the NBA history books.
In terms of pure scoring, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found himself among elite company once again. He also became one of only four NBA players to ever have 15 or more 30-point games in a single postseason run. The other three players on that list are Kobe Bryant (2009), Hakeem Olajuwon (1995), and Michael Jordan (1992).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 32.4 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in 5 games played in this series so far. He is widely considered the favorite to win the Finals MVP Award if the Thunder win the championship.
What Does This Mean For The OKC Thunder?
The Thunder are now one win away from an NBA championship. If they do manage to win this series (which seems very likely now), Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams will probably go down as the best duo in OKC history, even surpassing Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
While in terms of individual achievements, Williams is nowhere close to either Durant or Westbrook, but his duo with Gilgeous-Alexander will have more respect from fans than Durant and Westbrook did during their time. Especially since they never won an NBA championship together.
Paul Pierce went as far as to claim that Gilgeous-Alexander will receive a statue outside the Thunder's arena if he gets them this championship.
“A championship for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will not only make him the greatest Thunder, it ensures his statue at the tender age of 26,” Paul Pierce said. “If you were to leave Oklahoma City after this year, best believe they don’t put a statue of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for giving OKC their first NBA championship in franchise history, which I believe will happen. He’s been unstoppable in these playoffs; he’s had an unbelievable run.”
In my opinion, this run definitely warrants induction into their own Hall of Fame and retirement of his jersey number eventually. But it would be a stretch to say he will get a statue if he wins a championship.
