Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spoke to reporters Thursday after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-102 win over the Boston Celtics at Paycom Center. The 27-year-old scored 35 points, added nine assists and six rebounds, and extended his consecutive 20-point games streak to 127, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s long-standing record.
“None of the things I accomplished would matter if we weren’t winning,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And I probably wouldn’t have most of them if we weren’t winning. It’s why you play the game… just go out there and win and do everything I can to win.”
On maintaining offensive consistency against tough defenses, he explained, “Over the years I’ve just built my game, seen defenses, and I just attack the defenses with the tools I have. I like to think it feels like at least each year I get better and better at doing so.”
The Thunder improved to 52-15 with the victory, their seventh straight since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain. Oklahoma City shot 48 percent from the field and 76 percent from the line, while Boston managed 40 percent and 95 percent, respectively. Gilgeous-Alexander tied the game at 69-all in the third quarter with a midrange jumper, keeping the streak alive.
“I have great teammates,” he added. “Basketball’s a five-man sport. You can’t win by yourself. You need a great team, great role players, a great co-star, a great coach… all the awards… it’s a team thing.”
Reflecting on his personal growth, Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I’m a completely different player obviously. I’ve had a lot of luck with great people in my corner… people to help me grow on and off the court. Without them, I wouldn’t be the player or man I am today.”
When asked about his calm demeanor during high-pressure situations, he explained, “It’s pretty important. When you stay in the moment, you give yourself the best chance to succeed, not dwell on the past or worry about the future. Staying in the moment is the secret of it all.”
On giving up a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds, he said, “I just honestly trust him wholeheartedly… I saw where the ball was going to go and I just wanted to give him another opportunity to make a play.”
Gilgeous-Alexander also shared his approach to continual improvement, stating, “I’ve never had a season at 50-40-90. I still think there’s ways I can grow… understanding tactics, other coaches, and how they coach against the best guy on another team. The game’s always evolving.”
He credited past NBA greats for inspiring his style: “I fell in love with the midrange jump shot because of guys like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson… I just try to implement in today’s NBA what they did.”
Looking ahead, the Thunder will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, while Boston travels to Denver to face the Nuggets on Saturday.
