It’s no secret that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the cream of the crop in the NBA. The reigning champions have not only gotten off to a historic 18-1 start, but they are also dominating opponents. So much so that the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has hardly played in the fourth quarter.
In fact, out of the Thunder’s 19 games this season, Gilgeous-Alexander has only appeared in eight fourth quarters. It has become such a pattern that even Gilgeous-Alexander is commenting on it on his social media.
In his most recent photo and video dump on Instagram, Gilgeous-Alexander capped the post off by commenting, “how can i go back and forth, if I’m not really back in fourths?”
While this is not the most pointed comment by Gilgeous-Alexander, who has consistently used his Instagram posts to throw shade at players, it still holds weight. The Thunder are dominating the league so much that they only need three quarters from their best player to win. If anything, Gilgeous-Alexander is sneak-dissing the whole league.
Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Win Another MVP Not Playing Fourth Quarters
GettyShai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder.
Honestly, Gilgeous-Alexander is having an insane season. He is averaging 32.6 points and 6.6 assists per game, in 33.3 minutes. Keep in mind, he is doing all that while not really playing in the fourth quarter regularly.
When Gilgeous-Alexander does have to play in the fourth quarter, he has still been amazing. Despite only playing in eight fourth quarters, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 8.5 points in those final 12 minutes. That is tied for the fourth highest in the NBA.
On top of that, when it comes to playing during clutch time, Gilgeous-Alexander holds his own. While he has played in only seven games that qualify as clutch, he is averaging a league-high 9.1 points.
His last appearances in the fourth quarter came against the Minnesota Timberwolves, in an NBA Cup matchup, which the Thunder won 113-105. SGA scored 11 points in the final quarter, cementing the win.
With all that, it’s hard to argue against Gilgeous-Alexander’s case to win back-to-back MVPs. He is leading his team to a historic record while not playing in the fourth quarter. When Gilgeous-Alexander does play in the fourth quarter, he is one of the clutchest players in the league.
Can Anyone Catch the Thunder With Gilgeous-Alexander Leading the Way
GettyShai Gilgeous-Alexander in the center of a Thunder team huddle.
The last guard to win back-to-back MVPs is Stephen Curry. Curry won his first MVP and championship in the 2014-15 season. Then in 2015-16, the Golden State Warriors set the NBA record for the most wins, while Curry sat out in 20 fourth quarters.
You don’t need to look closely to see the similarities between Curry and Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander won his first NBA Finals and MVP in the same season, and his team is following that up by dominating the league. In fact, the last team to start their season looking this good was that Warriors team that won 73 games.
This is not to say that the Thunder will win 70+ games this season, but they certainly have a chance. They are already 18-1, with a point differential of 16.5, nearly seven points more than second-place. The Warriors’ point differential in 2014-15 was 10.1.
To only add to the Thunder’s chances of making history, they have played the first 19 games of the season without their second-best player, Jalen Williams. Williams averaged 21.6 points per game last season and is making his 2025-25 debut tonight, against the Phoenix Suns in an important NBA Cup matchup. With Williams back, the Thunder’s ceiling only gets higher, especially if Gilgeous-Alexander keeps playing like this.
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