Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander Averaged 32.7 PPG During His Title Run—The Most Points Ever by a Champions’ Star Since MJ
When we talk about legendary NBA seasons, names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal usually come up. But this season, a new name got added to that list: Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander.
At just 26 years old, Shai averaged 32.7 points per game during the regular season. Not only was that good enough to win the NBA scoring title, but it also made him the highest-scoring player ever in a championship-winning season. He broke Michael Jordan’s long-standing record of 32.6 PPG from the 1992–93 season.
It’s a wild stat when you think about it. Jordan was in the middle of his first three-peat when he set that mark. It took over 30 years for anyone to top it—and Shai did it while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first title since 1979.
But that’s not all. Shai won the league MVP, the Finals MVP, and the scoring title all in the same year. Only three other players in history have done that: Michael Jordan, Shaq, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And now? Add SGA to that exclusive club.
How He Did It—and Why It Mattered
This wasn’t some random fluke. Shai had been building toward this moment for years.
Back in 2019, the Thunder traded Paul George to the Clippers and got a young, rising guard named Shai in return. At the time, it looked like a rebuild. But OKC built smart—collecting draft picks, developing talent, and most importantly, giving Shai the keys to the franchise.
This season, everything clicked. The Thunder won 68 games, a franchise record. They were the youngest team in the league with the best record. And Shai? He was the steady hand, night after night.
He scored 30+ points in 54 games, more than anyone else this season. And he did it with insane efficiency—shooting 51.9% from the field while being the primary option every single night. That kind of efficiency for a high-volume scorer is unheard of in today’s game.
In the playoffs, he didn’t slow down. He averaged over 30 PPG again and dropped 29 points and 12 assists in Game 7 of the Finals to close out the Indiana Pacers. It was the kind of performance that turns stars into legends.
And the defense wasn’t soft. The Pacers played tough, physical, scrappy ball all series. But Shai adjusted, kept his composure, and delivered under pressure.
Fans React—and the NBA Takes Notice
When the numbers dropped, NBA Twitter exploded.
“SGA just had the most points per game of any Finals winner in NBA history. That’s crazy.”
“He passed MJ. MJ!!”
Reddit threads filled up fast. One user wrote:
“We are witnessing the birth of the next era. He’s HIM.”
Even respected analysts took notice. On BlueSky, stats writer Zach Kram pointed out that Shai is now the second-youngest player in history to win a scoring title, league MVP, and Finals MVP in the same year—just behind Kareem.
And it’s not just the numbers. It’s how he played. Shai’s game feels smooth and patient. He kills teams with mid-range pull-ups, slippery drives, and calm footwork. He’s not just efficient—he’s surgical. There’s a Kawhi‑like calm mixed with a Kobe‑like killer instinct.
Fans aren’t just watching his stats. They’re watching how he controls games like a seasoned vet—without ever seeming rattled.
What This Means Going Forward
So what now? Is Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander the face of the league?
He might be. He’s only 26. He just won it all. And he did it while making NBA history.
The Thunder are built to last. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey all took steps this year. OKC’s got the deepest young core in the league—and they’re just getting started.
But for now, the moment belongs to Shai. This wasn’t just a good season. It was one of the greatest in NBA history. The kind of season people talk about 20 years from now.
And yeah, beating Michael Jordan’s scoring average in a title year? That’s more than just a stat. That’s a stamp of greatness.