Gilgeous-Alexander admits 50-point hauls now routine but rejects Jordan comparison

The Oklahoma City Thunder star and MVP candidate had 51 points in Monday's 137-128 victory over the Houston Rockets, his team's 50th win of the season.

It was the fourth time this season that Gilgeous-Alexander had sunk 50 points in a game, with all of those instances coming in the last seven weeks.

According to ESPN, that is the shortest timeframe ever recorded between a player's first 50-point game and their fourth such game.

Asked after the win if these displays are becoming normal, Gilgeous-Alexander said: "A little bit!

"It's going to be different for everybody. Not everybody can be Michael Jordan, you know what I mean? No matter how much work you put in.

"You can say it's not as exciting as the first one, but it's more like getting lost in the process of just competing and playing the game you love. Wherever that takes you, it takes you."

The Canadian is the 12th player to record four or more 50-point games in a single NBA season, joining an illustrious list that includes Wilt Chamberlain (who did so eight times), Jordan (four), Elgin Baylor, James Harden (both three), Kobe Bryant (twice) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Gilgeous-Alexander also made all 10 of his free throws, shot 18-of-30 from the field and sank five of his nine 3-point attempts.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the 12th player in NBA history to record 4+ 50-PT games in a season, joining:Wilt Chamberlain (8x)Michael Jordan (4x)Elgin Baylor (3x)James Harden (3x)Kobe Bryant (2x)Rick BarryKareem Abdul-JabbarPete MaravichRussell WestbrookDamian… https://t.co/0DgRaiCAtc

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) March 4, 2025

But Gilgeous-Alexander was most pleased about the result, saying: "Whether it's 50, whether it's 27, whether it's 17. As long as we win, I have fun with it.

"I just think you play the game to win. You don't play the game to score a bunch of points.

"You don't play the game to get a bunch of rebounds or assists or steals. You don't play for anything besides to win, and that's what it's all about."

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, meanwhile, credited Gilgeous-Alexander for allowing his team-mates to thrive.

"I just think he's got an unbelievable pace to him right now," Daigneault said of the 26-year-old.

"When he's finding his stuff, he's attacking and really hitting the gas on some plays, and then there's other plays where he's just letting the defense tell him what to do and moving it to his team-mates.