Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties Michael Jordan in rare record with six games to spare

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been making the headlines lately after his impressive performance against the Pistons on Wednesday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties Michael Jordan in rare record with six games to spare

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Jordan

Despite their dominance and star power, Oklahoma City have not dominated NBA headlines for the majority of the season. With a chance to become the third club in NBA history to reach the 70-win milestone, this small-market team has swept the league. This would not be possible without their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his impressive milestones this season.

He racked up another feat, matching Michael Jordan in one of his milestones. Against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, Gilgeous-Alexander made a three-pointer to get his 20th point in 69 straight games. Per the official NBA X handle, with his 69th consecutive 20+ PT game, SGA ties Michael Jordan for the 4th longest single-season streak in NBA history.

In 72 of his 73 games this season, the Hamilton, Ontario native has scored at least 20 points (he scored 18 in his fourth game). With two weeks remaining in the season, he leads the league in both points per game (32.8) and overall points (2,381 and counting). Jordan and Gilgeous-Alexander are currently tied for fourth place on the record for the most games in a row with 20 points.

Oscar Robinson scored 20 points in 76 straight games during the 1963–64 season, while Wilt Chamberlain did so twice in the 1961–62 and 1963–64 seasons. Following their encounter with the Pistons on Wednesday, the Thunder have six games left. On the other hand, SGA is also running for the 2025 NBA MVP award alongside the Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

Jokic is averaging 29.7 points, 10.2 assists, and 12.8 rebounds per game; it would have taken a record season to deny him an MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander, however, has risen to the occasion. With an All-NBA level defense, he is scoring 32.9 points per game on 52.2% shooting. Now, only time will tell who clinches the decorated MVP award this season.

OKC Thunder created NBA history against the Pistons

The OKC Thunder are well and truly on a roll this 2024-25 NBA season. They have not only performed well by leading in the Western Conference but have also broken several records and set new milestones along the road this season. Their most recent achievement came on Wednesday after they beat the Detroit Pistons by a difference of 16 points.

This win was the 50th of the season by 10+ PTS for the Thunder. That ties the 1971-72 Lakers for the most in a single season in NBA history. In addition to this record, by winning the best single-season record ever by a Western Conference club against an Eastern Conference squad, the Thunder also created NBA history on Monday against the Chicago Bulls.

The Thunder achieved a remarkable 28-1 record versus the East this season, surpassing the previous record of 27-3, which the Golden State Warriors held in 2015–16, the Dallas Mavericks held in 2006–07, and the Los Angeles Lakers held in 1999–00.

BJ Armstrong ‘not impressed’ OKC Thunder’s performance this season

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the West’s most impressive tales thus far this season. Despite having the league’s best record (64-12), former NBA point player BJ Armstrong believes he is still not convinced that the team is a serious competitor in the West.

The league has changed. Half of the teams are tanking. So let me know if I should be impressed. If we just wanna sit here and look at the stat sheet and start comparing, alright, I’ll do that, if that’s what you want to do. Half of the teams are tanking. I respect what (the Thunder) have done, I respect the players. However, here’s the era where it is what it is. We’re fining teams for not playing their players. I don’t recall that happening a few years ago.

BJ Armstrong said

Regarding former Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong, he spent years playing alongside Michael Jordan and took home three titles.

Armstrong remains one of the most outspoken critics of the modern game throughout the years. Having previously referred to players as “robots,” he is now criticizing clubs for their obvious tanking. Winning 63-64 games isn’t worth as much as it used to, and the league isn’t as fiercely competitive as it once was per Armstrong.