Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spent much of last season brushing off critics who labeled him a “free throw merchant.” Yet, even after claiming the NBA’s MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in a historic campaign, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar still can’t seem to shake that tag — fairly or not.
Two games into the new season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again living at the free-throw line — and rewriting record books in the process.
The All-Star guard has attempted a staggering 40 free throws across Oklahoma City’s two opening wins against the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers — the most ever through the first two games of an NBA season. After taking 14 attempts from the stripe against Houston, he nearly doubled that number on Thursday, shooting 26 free throws in a thrilling Finals rematch with Indiana.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went 33-of-40 overall from the line as the Thunder escaped with back-to-back double-overtime victories. Remarkably, he’s made more free throws than field goals through his first two games — an absurd stat that only underscores his aggressive, relentless style of play.
And if there were any doubts about his MVP credentials, he silenced them in emphatic fashion. On Wednesday night, the Toronto native exploded for a career-high 55 points against the Pacers — less than 48 hours after dropping 35 on the Rockets. In doing so, he became just the fourth player in NBA history, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Anthony Davis, and Michael Jordan, to score 90 points in the first two games of a season.
He also tied Russell Westbrook for the most 50-point performances in Thunder history with five, surpassing Kevin Durant’s tally.
After Thursday’s 141-135 win, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admitted that the early workload has been exhausting but worthwhile.
“I’m tired, but it’s expected,” he told ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “It’s a good way to break the ice on the season — shake the rust off, get the lungs going, and understand that the beginning of the season matters just as much as the end.”
In past years, defending champions have often eased into their title defense. But this Thunder squad — young, hungry, and laser-focused — has no interest in coasting. If their star guard continues to play at this level, Oklahoma City’s pursuit of back-to-back titles might just be as electrifying as their first.
