The Oklahoma City Thunder are returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. They punched their ticket with a 4-1 series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the driving force. He scored 34 points in the closeout Game 5 and dominated the series from start to finish. In doing so, he made history on multiple fronts.
The All-NBA guard was named Western Conference Finals MVP after averaging 31.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. This performance put him in elite company.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins NBA Legends
By the end of the series, Gilgeous-Alexander had scored more points than any Thunder player in a conference finals. His 31.4 points per game set a new franchise record at this stage of the playoffs.
The only players to record 70p/15r/15a over any two-game span in the Conference Finals:
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James (4x)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/wEDshj51ew— Real Sports (@realapp_) May 29, 2025
He also became one of just four players in NBA history to post at least 70 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists over any two-game span in a conference finals. The others on that list? Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, who did it four times.
Known for his ridiculous scoring prowess, Gilgeous-Alexander had five consecutive 30-point games in the playoffs: Games 5 (31), 6 (32), 7 (35) against the Denver Nuggets and Games 1 (31) and 2 (38) against the Timberwolves.
His efficiency has also stood out. In Game 2 of the Denver series, he scored 34 points while shooting 84.6 percent from the field. He also went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line in that game. That game marked a +51 plus-minus for Gilgeous-Alexander—the highest single-game playoff plus-minus in NBA history.
According to StatMuse, no player in recent memory has had that level of impact on both ends of the court in a postseason game.
It wasn’t just offense. Gilgeous-Alexander also made noise on the defensive end. He holds the record for the most blocks by a point guard in a single playoff run, with nine so far. That defensive effort has significantly impacted Oklahoma City’s deep postseason push.
He added another milestone in Game 7 against Denver. He became the sixth player in playoff history to score at least 35 points without committing a single turnover in a Game 7.
In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander put up 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. That made him just the fourth player in NBA history to have a 40/5/10 stat line in a conference finals game.
All of these numbers show how complete his game has become. He can shoot from mid-range, draw fouls at a high rate, and knock down free throws at an elite clip. While some critics question how often he gets to the line, the fact is—he still has to make those shots, and he does.
He’s also a threat from deep, which forces defenses to play him honestly. He finds a way to score, whether off the dribble or the catch. Gilgeous-Alexander is proving he belongs in the conversation with the best players in the world. His run through the Western Conference has been nothing short of spectacular.
