Oklahoma City Thunder level guard is a win away from his first NBA championship, however he is already put himself in dialog with basketball legends following a historic Sport 5 efficiency.
The 2024-25 league MVP scored 31 factors within the 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers, marking his fifteenth 30-point recreation this postseason. Per the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander joined NBA Corridor of Famers Kobe Bryant (2009), Michael Jordan (1992) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1995) as the one gamers in league historical past to attain 30 factors in a minimum of 15 playoff video games throughout a single postseason.
The earlier three gained an NBA championship and have been named Finals MVP following their unimaginable runs.
Bryant ended the 2008-09 playoffs with 15 30-point video games, whereas Jordan and Olajuwon are tied for the report (16 video games).
Gilgeous-Alexander, like Jordan and Olajuwon, wanted 21 playoff video games to achieve 15 30-point video games. The Corridor of Famers had 30-point efforts of their following video games, closing out the 2 collection.
With the Thunder main the best-of-seven NBA Finals 3-2, Gilgeous-Alexander may be a part of them on Thursday’s Sport 6 with one other monster efficiency. If that’s the case, he’ll additionally probably clinch Finals MVP.
Per ESPN Bet, Gilgeous-Alexander (-550) is a major favourite to obtain the award, with teammate Jalen Williams, who scored a game-high 40 factors in Monday’s win, second (+700).
By means of 5 2025 Finals video games, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder in scoring (32.4 factors per recreation) on 47.4/30/92 % capturing splits. He is additionally first on the staff in assists (25) and blocks (9) and second in steals (12).
Because of his newest masterpiece, Gilgeous-Alexander is in rarefied air. If individuals are the corporate they hold, then the Thunder star is already standing among the many recreation’s giants.
