Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 points on 17-of-27 shooting Saturday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Washington Wizards 132-111 for their 11th consecutive win. He extended his NBA record to 63 consecutive road games with at least 20 points as the Thunder bettered their record to 56-15, which is already the best mark in the Western Conference.
Another dominant performance from the reigning MVP. One more routine win for Oklahoma City. Same story, different night. So when Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was asked about Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency after Saturday’s game, he didn’t bother reaching for superlatives.
Advertisement
“What is it like to see the consistency on a night in, night out basis?” the Thunder coach was questioned.
“Boring,” Daigneault said without missing a beat. “It’s the same every night.”
The coach’s words impeccably reflected the absurdity of watching someone operate at this level with such mechanical regularity that excellence has become the baseline expectation. In 59 games this season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 55.3% from the field. His 66.5% true shooting percentage ranks seventh in the league.
Advertisement
And he does all this with a 3.12 assist-to-turnover ratio, which makes him one of the league leaders in ball security. Earlier this month, the 27-year-old broke Wilt Chamberlain’s 63-year-old record for consecutive games scoring at least 20 points, pushing the streak past 127 games. The run dates back to November 2024 and has continued through an MVP award, a Finals MVP, and Oklahoma City’s first championship.
“All the records and the accomplishments are great, but they don’t matter if you don’t win,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after breaking the record against Boston. “That’s all that was on my mind.”
Daigneault has praised this mentality all season. “He’s ruthlessly consistent in the invisible spaces,” the coach said in December. “The commitment he has to the game, his craft, the team, it’s no accident that he’s the player that he is. He’s literally chiselled himself into this player.”
Advertisement
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images
(Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Making a Case for His Second Consecutive MVP
For good reason, Gilgeous-Alexander is an overwhelming favorite to win his second consecutive MVP award. Thunder hold a three-game cushion over the San Antonio Spurs for the West’s top seed with 11 games remaining. He has shouldered the offensive load with co-star Jalen Williams missing most of the season.
“What he’s doing is not normal,” Daigneault said earlier in January after a 40-point, 11-assist, 16-for-19 shooting performance. “I think he makes it look normal. He’s not breaking a sweat on a lot of nights. But what he’s doing is not normal.”
Advertisement
Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t disagree with the mundane framing of his dominance. He’s spoken about the lack of trash talk he receives from opponents, crediting his businesslike approach. “I go out there, I have 30, we win, I go home,” he told GQ. “I’m not out there doing crazy stuff.” Boring, perhaps. But historic, for sure.
Related: Magic Johnson Reacts to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s Record
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.