Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outshines Wilt Chamberlain: NBA history

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to write his name in NBA history. The star of the Oklahoma City Thunder has surpassed a record that belonged to Wilt Chamberlain for over six decades, one of the great legends of the league.

The reigning MVP set a new record by scoring at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games, surpassing Chamberlain's mark of 126 games set in the sixties.

The Canadian achieved this milestone during the game at the Paycom Center against the Boston Celtics. Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed the 20-point mark with a mid-range shot with 7:04 left in the third quarter, earning an ovation from the Oklahoma City crowd. During the subsequent timeout, the arena gave him a standing ovation while the scoreboard announced the new record.

The guard finished the game with 35 points and led the Thunder to a 104-102 victory.

Gilgeous-Alexander's streak began on November 1, 2024, showcasing extraordinary consistency. Before the Friday game, he was averaging 32.5 points during this series of games, a pace that also puts him close to another historic record: becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to average at least 30 points for four consecutive seasons.

His coach, Mark Daigneault, highlighted his star's competitive mentality before the game. Daigneault explained that while many players tend to relax after achieving success, Gilgeous-Alexander reacts in the opposite way and always seeks to improve.

The previous record belonged to Wilt Chamberlain since October 19, 1961, when he started a streak that lasted until January 19, 1963. That series coincided with one of the most legendary seasons in NBA history, where the center averaged 50.4 points per game and had the historic 100-point game, records that still stand today.

Chamberlain's streak ended unexpectedly when he was ejected from a game in the first quarter. Nevertheless, the legendary center still holds several consecutive scoring records in the league, including the most games with at least 30 points (65), 40 points (14), 50 points (7), and 60 points (4).

Additionally, Chamberlain also had the second-best historic series of consecutive games with at least 20 points, with 92 games between February 1963 and March 1964. That record held the second spot for decades until Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed it on his way to the new record.

No other player in NBA history has even reached 80 consecutive games with at least 20 points. The next longest streak is held by Oscar Robertson with 79 games, while Kevin Durant and Michael Jordan reached 72.

A Solid Record

Interestingly, during the 127 games of this streak, Gilgeous-Alexander only stayed at exactly 20 points in two instances, both in comfortable wins for Oklahoma City. The second one, on February 3 against the Orlando Magic, almost jeopardized the record.

In that game, the Canadian suffered an abdominal strain but stayed on the court until he made a free throw to reach 20 points by the end of the third quarter. He was then substituted and did not return, with the Thunder leading by 29 points. He subsequently missed the following nine games.

The impact of the guard is also reflected in the team's results. During this streak of 127 games with at least 20 points, Oklahoma City accumulated a record of 102 wins and 24 losses before the Friday matchup against Boston.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander se come a Wilt Chamberlain: historia de la NBA