Oklahoma Metropolis 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 at the least 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 file (16 video games).
Gilgeous-Alexander, like Jordan and Olajuwon, wanted 21 playoff video games to succeed in 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 part of them on Thursday’s Sport 6 with one other monster efficiency. In that case, he’ll additionally doubtless clinch Finals MVP.
Per ESPN Guess, Gilgeous-Alexander (-550) is a big favourite to obtain the award, with teammate Jalen Williams, who scored a game-high 40 factors in Monday’s win, second (+700).
By way of 5 2025 Finals video games, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder in scoring (32.4 factors per recreation) on 47.4/30/92 % taking pictures splits. He is additionally first on the staff in assists (25) and blocks (9) and second in steals (12).
Due to his newest masterpiece, Gilgeous-Alexander is in rarefied air. If individuals are the corporate they maintain, then the Thunder star is already standing among the many recreation’s giants.
