Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Wilt for the NBA’s record for the longest consecutive 20-point games.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The iconic Wilt Chamberlain has one less NBA record due to the performance of Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP, has surpassed a record that Chamberlain held for over sixty years by scoring at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games.
He achieved this milestone during Thursday’s home matchup against the Boston Celtics, hitting a 20-foot jumper with 7:04 left in the third quarter, which drew cheers from the crowd at Paycom Center.
The streak for Gilgeous-Alexander began on Nov. 1, 2024. He had been averaging 32.5 points per game during this streak as of Friday night and is on track to be the first player to average at least 30 points per game for four straight seasons since Michael Jordan.
“Human nature is that you have success and you ease a little bit,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault remarked before the game. “He’s the opposite. He tastes it and wants more. He goes back for seconds.”
Chamberlain’s 126-game streak commenced on Oct. 19, 1961 — the opening game of the season in which the Hall of Famer set NBA records for scoring in a season (50.4 points per game) and in a game (100), both of which remain unbroken today — and continued until Jan. 19, 1963. The streak concluded when Chamberlain was ejected from a game in the first quarter.
Chamberlain still retains records for the longest streaks of scoring 30 points (65 games), 40 points (14 games), 50 points (seven games), and 60 points (four games).
Additionally, Chamberlain scored 20 points in 92 consecutive games from Feb. 26, 1963, to March 18, 1964, which was the second-longest such streak in NBA history until Gilgeous-Alexander broke it.
No other NBA player has achieved 20 points in 80 consecutive games. The next longest 20-point streak was 79 games by Oscar Robertson. Kevin Durant and Jordan each recorded 20 points in 72 straight games, tying for fifth on the list.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who was limited to under 20 points in three playoff games during Oklahoma City’s championship journey last season, has finished with exactly 20 points only twice during his streak. Both instances occurred during significant victories for the Thunder this season.
The second of those 20-point games, which took place in a Feb. 3 home victory over the Orlando Magic, posed the most serious threat to the streak. After suffering an abdominal strain, Gilgeous-Alexander continued to play until he made a free throw to reach 20 points late in the third quarter. He exited after the next possession, with the Thunder leading by 29 points and 1:48 remaining in the third, and subsequently missed the next nine games.
Oklahoma City’s record during Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak stood at 102-24 prior to Friday’s game against the Celtics.
