Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sets Record for Consecutive 20-Point Games

On Thursday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a significant mark in basketball history.

In the Oklahoma City Thunder’s close 104-102 victory over the Boston Celtics, he not only scored over 20 points but also broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record for the most consecutive games with 20 or more points, reaching 127 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who led his team with an impressive 35 points, hit a crucial three-pointer at the start of the third quarter, following up with two free throws on the Thunder’s preceding possession.

His impressive streak of four consecutive All-Star appearances began with a standout performance where he scored 30 points in a 137-114 win against the Trail Blazers on November 1, 2024.

Chamberlain had held the record for 126 consecutive games since 1963, marking himself as a 13-time All-Star. The next closest record of consecutive appearances belonged to him as well, starting with 92 consecutive games played the following year. Oscar Robertson also made his mark with 79 consecutive games from 1963 to 1964.

In recent history, Kevin Durant achieved the 20-point milestone in 72 consecutive games during the 2015-16 season.

Before surpassing Chamberlain’s record, Gilgeous-Alexander playfully referred to the four-time MVP as a “mythical creature,” although he confessed that he didn’t know that much about him.

“There wasn’t much to it other than he was very dominant,” he told ESPN. “He did whatever he wanted to do based on the statistics, and… it almost felt like a mythical creature, to be honest.”

He added, “It’s not real.”

This season, Gilgeous-Alexander is continuing to shine, boasting MVP-worthy stats: an average of 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, with a shooting percentage of 55% from the field in 54 games. His performance has helped the Thunder stake a claim as the best team in the NBA, standing at 51-15 as they entered Thursday’s matchup.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to stay calm under pressure, highlighting that he remains mentally engaged throughout the game.

“He never presses,” Daigneault shared with reporters. “He has incredible situational awareness and understands the flow of the game. I think that’s one of his superpowers. If he misses a shot early, he knows there’s still a whole game ahead.”

He concluded that Gilgeous-Alexander’s mental stability has been a key factor in his consistent performance.