Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how his improvement as a scorer makes him a better playmaker
OKLAHOMA CITY — In the modern NBA, the line between an elite scorer and a primary playmaker is often blurred, but for Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two skills are not just related—they are symbiotic. Following a commanding 121-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets earlier this week, the reigning MVP offered a window into his offensive philosophy, explaining how his relentless scoring aggression actually unlocks his passing game.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Gilgeous-Alexander detailed the paradox of his offensive evolution: to become a better passer, he first had to become an undeniable scoring threat. "The better you get at individually scoring, the more they make you pass. It’s just how it goes," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I’d be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t kind of lean into that and work on those types of things."
The logic is sound. As Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring average hovers around a league-leading 32.0 points per game this season, opposing defenses have been forced to sell out to stop his drives. This gravitational pull creates 4-on-3 advantages for his teammates, turning simple reads into high-percentage looks. It is a maturity that Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault believes was forged in the fire of the team’s 2025 championship run. Daigneault noted that the playoffs forced Gilgeous-Alexander to accept that defenses would rather die by a Chet Holmgren three or a Jalen Williams cut than let SGA operate one-on-one.
This season, that acceptance has turned into weaponized patience. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging over 6.0 assists per game, a number that reflects his willingness to take what the defense gives him rather than forcing the issue. By keeping defenses at his mercy, he dictates the terms of engagement. If they stay home on shooters, he scores at the rim. If they collapse, he finds the open man.
For the Thunder, who currently sit atop the Western Conference standings, this duality makes their offense nearly impossible to scheme against. Gilgeous-Alexander isn't just playing point guard; he is manipulating the geometry of the court, proving that the threat of the score is the ultimate assist.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Gilgeous-Alexander detailed the paradox of his offensive evolution: to become a better passer, he first had to become an undeniable scoring threat. "The better you get at individually scoring, the more they make you pass. It’s just how it goes," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I’d be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t kind of lean into that and work on those types of things."
The logic is sound. As Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring average hovers around a league-leading 32.0 points per game this season, opposing defenses have been forced to sell out to stop his drives. This gravitational pull creates 4-on-3 advantages for his teammates, turning simple reads into high-percentage looks. It is a maturity that Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault believes was forged in the fire of the team’s 2025 championship run. Daigneault noted that the playoffs forced Gilgeous-Alexander to accept that defenses would rather die by a Chet Holmgren three or a Jalen Williams cut than let SGA operate one-on-one.
This season, that acceptance has turned into weaponized patience. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging over 6.0 assists per game, a number that reflects his willingness to take what the defense gives him rather than forcing the issue. By keeping defenses at his mercy, he dictates the terms of engagement. If they stay home on shooters, he scores at the rim. If they collapse, he finds the open man.
For the Thunder, who currently sit atop the Western Conference standings, this duality makes their offense nearly impossible to scheme against. Gilgeous-Alexander isn't just playing point guard; he is manipulating the geometry of the court, proving that the threat of the score is the ultimate assist.
