The 2024-2025 season went as well as it possibly could have for Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He led the league in scoring, putting up 32.7 points per game while leading the Thunder to a record of 68-14, the best mark in the league.
Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP. He followed that up by leading the Thunder to their first-ever championship, winning Finals MVP in the process. This season, Gilgeous-Alexander is picking up right where he left off.
The Thunder have started the season 2-0, defeating perhaps their biggest threat in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets, 125-124 in overtime, and then taking down the Indiana Pacers 141-135 in double overtime in a rematch of last season’s finals. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in the victory over the Rockets and then dropped a season-high 55 points in the Thunder’s win in Indiana.
How Did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Overtake Wilt Chamberlain?
Gilgeous-Alexander’s accolades continue to add up, and the 27-year-old already seems destined for the Hall of Fame.
One of the critiques (or maybe compliments) of Gilgeous-Alexander’s game is the number of free throws he takes and the effort he makes to get to the line. Although no one wants to see games decided at the charity stripe, it is undoubtedly effective.
Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander was second in the league in free-throw attempts at 8.8 per game. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only one ahead of him, averaging 10.6 attempts per game. In the postseason, he had the third-most attempts per game at 9.4 behind Antetokounmpo (12.6) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (9.9).
Through two games this season, Gilgeous-Alexander has taken a league-high 40 free throw attempts. Golden State Warriors veteran Jimmy Butler III has the second-most attempts with 24.
That is now the most free throws ever attempted by any player through two games. Gilgeous-Alexander went ahead of Bob Lanier, who had 38 attempts for the Detroit Pistons during the 1978-79 season, and the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, who also had 38 for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1969-70 season.
Any time you pass a legend like Chamberlain, even in a statistic like free throw attempts, it’s worth pointing out just how impressive it is. Getting to the line is a skill, and Gilgeous-Alexander left some points on the floor, missing seven of those 40 attempts (he was 10-of-14 against the Rockets and 23-of-26 against the Pacers).
Both Chamberlain and Lanier are in the Hall of Fame. Through two games, the 11th-overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft is averaging 45.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
The Thunder will return to the court on Saturday night when they travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be on NBA TV.
