He’s doing it again. Honestly, at this point, watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play basketball feels like watching a master glitch in the matrix. You know the one—where the defender does everything right, stays in front, gets a hand up, and yet Shai just... glides. He finds that weird, rhythmic pocket of space that shouldn't exist and the ball goes through the net. Every single time.
If you’ve been looking at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats lately, you might have noticed something crazy. He’s not just "star player" good anymore. He’s "historically dominant" good. We’re talking about a guy who just led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship and an MVP in 2025, and somehow, he’s actually gotten better in 2026.
The 30-Point Machine That Doesn't Stop
The most absurd thing about Shai right now isn't a single highlight dunk. It’s the consistency. As of mid-January 2026, Shai has scored at least 20 points in 111 consecutive games. Think about that. That's the second-longest streak in NBA history, and he’s closing in on Wilt Chamberlain’s record.
He’s currently averaging 31.6 points per game, which is second in the league. But it’s the how that matters. He isn't hunting shots. His usage rate has actually dipped slightly to 33.1%, down from 34.6% during his MVP campaign last year. He's literally doing more with less of the ball.
He just dropped 34 points on the San Antonio Spurs the other night, ending a weird little losing streak the Thunder had against them. He had 13 in the first quarter alone. It’s like he decides when a game is over before the second half even starts.
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Efficiency That Makes Analytics Nerds Cry
People used to say, "Yeah, Shai is great, but can he shoot the three?" Well, that conversation is dead. Buried.
He is currently shooting 44.3% from beyond the arc. For a guy who lives in the paint and thrives on mid-range step-backs, that’s a nightmare for the rest of the NBA. Defenders used to go under screens against him. Now? If you go under, he’s punishing you with a step-back that he’s hitting at a 52% clip. That is basically a layup for him at this point.
Breaking Down the Shooting Splits
- Field Goal Percentage: 54.8% (Elite for a guard)
- True Shooting (TS%): 68.6%
- Free Throw Percentage: 89.5%
- Points Per Shot Attempt: 138.5 (99th percentile)
His True Shooting percentage is actually five points higher than it was last season. To put that in perspective, Shai is currently having the most efficient 30-point scoring season in the history of the league, narrowly edging out Steph Curry’s legendary 2015-16 run. He’s seventh in the league in TS%, and every other person in that top ten is a center who only dunks. Shai is out-efficient-ing the big men while taking some of the toughest shots in the game.
He’s Actually a Defensive Menace Now
We need to talk about the "stocks." In basketball speak, that’s steals plus blocks. Shai has always been "sneaky" long, but this year he’s a straight-up wall. He’s averaging about 1.4 steals and nearly a block per game.
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In that recent win against the Spurs, he tied a career-high with 4 blocks. He was swatting shots at the rim like he was Chet Holmgren. His Defensive Box Plus-Minus (DBPM) is sitting at a 3.2. If he keeps that up, it’ll be a record for a guard.
The Thunder defense is ranked #1 in the league, allowing only 108.1 points per game. Sure, having Chet and Isaiah Hartenstein helps, but Shai’s ability to pester ball-handlers and jump passing lanes is why their transition offense is so lethal. They turn your mistakes into Shai layups before you even realize you turned the ball over.
The Evolution of the Playmaker
Last year, the knock—if you could even call it that—was that Shai was a "scorer first, passer second." This season, he’s moved into that elite floor general territory. His assist percentage has jumped to 32.3%.
He’s averaging 6.4 assists, but more importantly, he’s protecting the ball. His turnover ratio is in the 99th percentile at a measly 6.2%. He’s basically the most reliable person in the world with a basketball in his hands. You can't rattle him. You can't double-team him effectively because he’s finally learned to manipulate the help defense to find Jalen Williams or Alex Caruso in the corners.
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What This Means for Your Fantasy Team (and the MVP Race)
If you’re lucky enough to have him on your fantasy roster, don't trade him. Seriously. Even if someone offers you a King's ransom, just say no. He’s the "set it and forget it" king of 2026.
As for the real-world MVP race? It’s basically a two-man sprint between Shai and Nikola Jokic. But with the Thunder sitting at 34-7 (a league-best record) and Shai leading them to a +13.2 point differential, it’s hard to argue against back-to-back trophies. He’s on pace to help OKC hit 70 wins.
There’s a nuance to his game that stats don't always capture—the way he slows the game down to his own speed. But when you look at the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats, the math finally catches up to what the eye test has been saying for three years: he is the best player in the world right now.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half
- Watch the Feb 4th Matchup: The Thunder play the Spurs again. Keep an eye on Shai's defensive assignments; if he continues to rack up blocks against Wemby's squad, the DPOY chatter might actually start getting serious.
- Monitor the 3PT Volume: If Shai stays above 5 attempts per game at his current 44% clip, he becomes mathematically impossible to guard.
- The Scoring Record: Track the 20-point streak. He is only about 15 games away from tying Wilt. Every game for the next three weeks is a potential history-making night.
- MVP Betting: If the Thunder hit the 40-win mark before 10 losses, Shai’s MVP odds will likely lock. If you're looking at awards futures, that's the threshold to watch.