It wouldn't have been fair at all to characterize Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a throw-in regarding the 2019 Paul George trade, but it's safe to say even the Thunder couldn't have imagined he would turn into the player he is today.
Gilgeous-Alexander became Oklahoma City's third MVP since the franchise moved from Seattle, emerging as one of the NBA's most prolific scorers and the face of a franchise with championship expectations.
Since the move to Oklahoma City, the Thunder have seen plenty of legendary names wear the jersey, from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to James Harden and Paul George. Where does Gilgeous-Alexander rank among them?
Here's a look at where Gilgeous-Alexander ranks among Sporting News' nine greatest Thunder players of all time.
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Where does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rank among Thunder legends?
Note: Only players who played for the Thunder after the move to Oklahoma City are considered.
Gilgeous-Alexander ranks No. 3 on Sporting News' list of the nine greatest players in Thunder history.
With Durant still the overwhelming choice as the best player in Thunder history, Gilgeous-Alexander has some work to do to climb to the top of the list. He could, however, be on the verge of passing Westbrook.
A championship could put Gilgeous-Alexander in uncharted territory, as the Thunder have not won a title since their move from Seattle — even with Durant and Westbrook. Gilgeous-Alexander has already matched each of those players with one MVP, so a championship and some more longevity could allow him to separate himself when all is said and done.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander career milestones and achievements
Here's a complete breakdown of Gilgeous-Alexander's career achievements.
All-Star appearances with Thunder
- 2022-23 NBA All-Star
- 2023-24 NBA All-Star
- 2024-25 NBA All-Star
It took some time for Gilgeous-Alexander to reach All-Star status, as he missed out in both 2021 and 2022 despite averaging more than 23 points per game, but that's life in the crowded Western Conference. By 2022-23, Gilgeous-Alexander left no doubt and earned his first of three All-Star selections and counting.
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All-NBA selections
- 2022-23: All-NBA First Team
- 2023-24: All-NBA First Team
- 2024-25: All-NBA First Team
Gilgeous-Alexander has earned three First-Team All-NBA selections, landing a spot in each of his All-Star seasons.
Award voting
- 2024-25 NBA MVP
- 2022-23: 5th in MVP voting
- 2023-24: 2nd in MVP voting
- 2023-24: 7th in Defensive Player of the Year voting
Gilgeous-Alexander has three top-five MVP finishes, including a win in the 2024-25 season. Winning at only 26 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander became the third Thunder player to receive MVP honors since the franchise's move to Oklahoma City and the second Canadian to win the award (Steve Nash being the first).
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Playoff appearances
- 2019-20: Lost in first round
- 2023-24: Lost in West semifinals
- 2024-25: Playing in NBA Finals
Gilgeous-Alexander spent some of his early years at the forefront of a complete Thunder rebuild after making the playoffs in his first season with the team, and he helped lead the franchise out of it with playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025.
After a surprise exit in the second round in 2024, the Thunder have their sights set on a championship in 2025.
Milestones
- 10,405 points with Thunder
- NBA scoring leader (2024-25)
- Thunder single-season scoring record (OKC and Seattle)
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged at least 30 points per game in three consecutive seasons, leading the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game in 2024-25 and setting a new franchise record, even dating back to Seattle. At 10,405 points, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks third behind only Durant and Westbrook since the team moved to Oklahoma City.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander career stats
Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged more than 30 points per game in three consecutive seasons, shooting better than 50 percent from the field each time. He's scored 10,405 points in six seasons with the Thunder.
| Season | Team | Games | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% | 3-pt% |
| 2018-19 | Clippers | 82 | 10.8 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 47.6% | 36.7% |
| 2019-20 | Thunder | 70 | 19.0 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 47.1% | 34.7% |
| 2020-21 | Thunder | 35 | 23.7 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 50.8% | 41.8% |
| 2021-22 | Thunder | 56 | 24.5 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 45.3% | 30.0% |
| 2022-23 | Thunder | 68 | 31.4 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 51.0% | 34.5% |
| 2023-24 | Thunder | 75 | 30.1 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 53.5% | 35.3% |
| 2024-25 | Thunder | 76 | 32.7 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 51.9% | 37.5% |
| Career | 462 | 24.4 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 50.1% | 35.5% |
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Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be in the Hall of Fame?
Historically, an NBA MVP award is effectively a ticket to the Hall of Fame. No eligible former MVP is not in the Basketball Hall of Fame, though Derrick Rose could put that trend to the test when he becomes eligible.
With an MVP, three First-Team All-NBA selections under his belt and a realistic chance of winning a championship, Gilgeous-Alexander is firmly on track.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander best highlights
Gilgeous-Alexander posted one of the best playoff performances of his career in Game 4 of the 2025 Western Conference Finals, dropping 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists on the Timberwolves.
Gilgeous-Alexander set a new career-high with 54 points against the Jazz during the 2024-25 season.
Before he became an MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander flashed signs of stardom for the Thunder in the NBA's bubble playoffs in 2020.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit a game-winner with less than a second remaining to sink the Nuggets in this 2023 contest:
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