Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reached a major career milestone during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, hitting the 3,000 points mark for the season, including playoffs. His first basket of the game, a 10-footer with 8:24 left in the opening quarter, officially marked this achievement. Although he technically crossed the 3,000-point threshold in Game 1, the points from NBA Cup games aren’t counted towards seasonal totals, which is why this was recognized in Game 2.
This feat places Gilgeous-Alexander among an elite group, becoming only the 25th player in NBA history to score 3,000 points in a season. Legendary names like Michael Jordan (who did it 10 times) and Wilt Chamberlain (5 times) lead the list, with other notable players such as Bob McAdoo, Elgin Baylor, James Harden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Luka Dončić, Rick Barry, Shaquille O’Neal, and now Gilgeous-Alexander achieving it once.
Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander is the fourth player to reach 3,000 points in a season while also recording at least 600 assists. Michael Jordan accomplished this three times, while Luka Dončić and James Harden achieved it once each. At 26 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander earned MVP honors this season by averaging 32.7 points and 2,484 regular-season points, leading the NBA in points per game. During the playoffs, he added 548 points, also leading all players, with averages of five rebounds and 6.4 assists per game that increased to 5.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the postseason. His outstanding performance helped the Thunder secure a 68-14 record, the best in the NBA, and reach their first Finals since the 2011-2012 season.
Currently, the Thunder and Indiana Pacers are tied 1-1 in the NBA Finals as the series shifts back to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Fan Take: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s achievement cements him as one of the most dominant players of this era, showcasing his scoring and playmaking prowess. For basketball fans, this milestone highlights a rising superstar whose performances could shape the future of the sport and inspire a new generation of players.
