How Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander losing 20-point streak earned extra admiration from Mark Daigneault

OKLAHOMA CITY — With 1:43 left toward the end of a 96-84 win against the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander decided it was time to end his streak of scoring 20+ points in 141 consecutive regular-season games, head coach Mark Daigneault revealed. Amidst a cold shooting night, Gilgeous-Alexander found his offensive rhythm after halftime, scoring 13 of his 17 points in the second half against the Nuggets.

The two-time MVP drained a dagger 3-pointer that extended the Thunder's lead to 20 points (93-73), forcing Nuggets head coach David Adelman to empty his bench. That's when Gilgeous-Alexander turned to Daigneault, and asked to be subbed out of the game.

"It's a historic record. So, it's a bit of a dilemma if you're in my position," Daigneault said. "But he put me in a great position there. I would have left him. I was gonna leave him [in]. Just another reason on the list of why I admire him."

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Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault adds Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's decision to be taken out of the game to a long list of things he admires about the two-time MVP. Daigneault commended Gilgeous-Alexander for making the call when he didn't have to.

"For the class that it shows and the perspective that it shows for him to say, "Hey, I'm out now, the game's calling for me to be subbed out of the game," that was his substitution, and of all the things that I admire about him, that's toward the top of the list in terms of moments that I appreciate about him," Daigneault said. "It shows tremendous class as a competitor."

For Gilgeous-Alexander, watching the Nuggets sub their starters out was all he needed to see to make the decision that his night was over, cementing a record that took over 60 years to break.

"I was gonna go out there. Then, I saw that they had subbed. So, I thought, we should sub, too," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I feel like you always treat the game with respect. And God willing I have many more games to start another streak. So, it's not that important."

Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren admitted he's not sure if he would have made the same choice if he were in Gilgeous-Alexander's shoes, but commends SGA for making the admirable decision.

"I asked him, I said, 'You want to shoot some threes right here,' and he's like, "Nah," then, he went up to Mark and subbed himself out," Holmgren said. "I told him he's a better man than me. I would have been shooting some pull-up threes. I think it was a selfless moment, and he's a selfless guy. He's one of the hardest workers that I know, and it shows up out there. And so does his leadership, and he does that the right way."

Gilgeous-Alexander was 6-for-19, including 3-for-11 from deep against the Nuggets. He also finished with three assists and one block. Jalen Williams' 21 points led the Thunder, while Holmgren finished with 17 rebounds, 12 points, and four blocks. Oklahoma City improved to 2-0 on the regular season.