After a historic start to the season, the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a slight drop-off. While they are no longer in contention to break the NBA’s regular-season wins record, they remain a strong favorite to repeat as champions as long as reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is healthy. That’s why the latest update on Gilgeous-Alexander from an NBA insider is concerning for Thunder fans.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Set to Miss the Remaining Games Before All-Star Break
NBA insider Michael Scotto revealed on X that Gilgeous-Alexander will be out of action for the next couple of weeks. Scotto said, “Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sustained an abdominal strain in last night’s game against the Magic and will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break.”
Gilgeous-Alexander had a productive game against the Magic, despite suffering an abdominal injury, scoring 20 points and dishing out nine assists in the Thunder’s massive 128-92 win. He remains on track to potentially break four-time MVP center Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record of 126 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points.
Offensive outing in the 405 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/sjsMfInjcl
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 4, 2026
While the Thunder currently have a six-game cushion at the top of the Western Conference standings, losing Gilgeous-Alexander for an extended period could allow teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets to make up ground. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this season, while shooting a career high 55.4% from the field.
He’s also a big part of the Thunder’s aggressive lockdown defense, averaging 1.3 steals and nearly 1 block per game. Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury also means NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will have to replace Gilgeous-Alexander on the Team World roster for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
While the Thunder are praised for their depth, it will be tested with Gilgeous-Alexander and wing Jalen Williams on the sidelines. Williams remains out of action while dealing with a right hamstring strain. First-time All-Star Chet Holmgren will probably get to experience being the number one offensive option for a while now, while guards Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace will get more opportunities.
The Thunder also completed a trade to acquire Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain, which adds even more firepower to the backcourt while the organization waits for Gilgeous-Alexander to return. An extended absence for Gilgeous-Alexander could also shake up the MVP race as well, and tighten the gap for the top spot.
