SHAI Gilgeous-Alexander

The volume stands out, but the efficiency stands out more. Last season Gilgeous-Alexander shot 55.3 percent from the field. He hit 38.6 percent from three and 87.9 percent at the line. His true shooting percentage was 66.5. That is a rare number for a player with a 32.3 usage rate, because high-usage guards usually give back some efficiency. He did not. He also posted a plus-minus of 11.6 last season, so Oklahoma City was much better with him on the floor. When opponents send help, he gets to the line or finds a teammate. When they stay home, he gets to his spots in the midrange. Those 2025-26 numbers set a high bar for this season.

Gilgeous-Alexander has played four games this month. On Oct. 7 against Milwaukee he scored 17 points in 18.1 minutes in a loss. On Oct. 13 against Indiana he had 15 points and six assists in 23.3 minutes, and the Thunder won. On Oct. 15 against Houston he scored 17 in 25.6 minutes. Oklahoma City lost that game and he finished at minus-24. Then came his biggest night of the month. On Oct. 20 against San Antonio he played 36.1 minutes and posted 32 points, six rebounds and four assists in a win. His minutes have gone up from game to game, and the Spurs game looked like a full workload.

Gilgeous-Alexander is not on the injury report right now. He appeared on it twice this month, and neither listing was an injury. On Oct. 5 he was listed day-to-day for a reason marked not injury related. He was cleared on Oct. 7 and played that night against Milwaukee. On Oct. 10 he was listed day-to-day again, this time for rest. He was cleared on Oct. 13 and played against Indiana. Both stints on the report were short. Neither was tied to a specific body part. His 36.1 minutes against San Antonio on Oct. 20 show he is carrying a normal load. For fantasy managers and bettors, the key point is simple: no current injury designation.

The last stretch of last season ran through San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder played the Spurs six times between May 20 and May 30. He opened with 30 points and nine assists in a win on May 20. He followed with 26 points and 12 assists in another win on May 22. San Antonio won on May 24, when he scored 19. He bounced back with 32 points and nine assists in a win on May 26. Then the Spurs won the last two. He scored 15 on May 28, with a minus-28. He finished with 35 points and nine assists in 43.0 minutes on May 30, a loss. His 32-point night against San Antonio on Oct. 20 came in his first meeting with them since.

His name came up in the rumor cycle this month. An Oct. 8 Northwest Notes roundup listed SGA alongside Dosunmu, Kerr and the Trail Blazers. The headline gives no detail on what was said about him. Nothing in it points to a move, and nothing has happened. Treat it as notes coverage, not news. For now, Gilgeous-Alexander is the Thunder's No. 2 and the center of their offense. He comes off a season of 31.1 points, 6.6 assists and 66.5 true shooting. The more useful questions for Oklahoma City fans are on the court. Can he match that efficiency again? Will his minutes stay near the 36.1 he played against San Antonio?