Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as the undisputed king of the NBA playoffs, delivering MVP-level performances that have propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to new heights. As the sole Thunder player to crack the postseason power rankings, Gilgeous-Alexander has outshined the entire league, proving that his dominance is no fluke.
In a playoff landscape devoid of familiar faces like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as the brightest star [A](https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-postseason-players-power-ranking-the-10-best-players-in-conference-finals?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiTGhDcVVZM2JQWHI5aGJLaFA5V1hwIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3Lm5iY3Nwb3J0cy5jb21cL25iYVwvbmV3c1wvbmJhLXBvc3RzZWFzb24tcGxheWVycy1wb3dlci1yYW5raW5nLXRoZS0xMC1iZXN0LXBsYXllcnMtaW4tY29uZmVyZW5jZS1maW5hbHMiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJlRVM3Q0xnaDNZVm5nVExQcGpZQTUifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His ability to rise to the occasion was on full display in a decisive Game 7 victory, where he dropped **35 points**, leading OKC to the Western Conference Finals [A](https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-postseason-players-power-ranking-the-10-best-players-in-conference-finals?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiTGhDcVVZM2JQWHI5aGJLaFA5V1hwIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3Lm5iY3Nwb3J0cy5jb21cL25iYVwvbmV3c1wvbmJhLXBvc3RzZWFzb24tcGxheWVycy1wb3dlci1yYW5raW5nLXRoZS0xMC1iZXN0LXBsYXllcnMtaW4tY29uZmVyZW5jZS1maW5hbHMiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJlRVM3Q0xnaDNZVm5nVExQcGpZQTUifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His postseason averages—**29 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game**—underscore his all-around brilliance [A](https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-postseason-players-power-ranking-the-10-best-players-in-conference-finals?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJlRVM3Q0xnaDNZVm5nVExQcGpZQTUiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cubmJjc3BvcnRzLmNvbVwvbmJhXC9uZXdzXC9uYmEtcG9zdHNlYXNvbi1wbGF5ZXJzLXBvd2VyLXJhbmtpbmctdGhlLTEwLWJlc3QtcGxheWVycy1pbi1jb25mZXJlbmNlLWZpbmFscyIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19tZXNzYWdlSWQiOiJMaENxVVkzYlBYcjloYktoUDlXWHAiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
What sets Gilgeous-Alexander apart is his ability to perform under pressure. In a league where clutch moments define legacies, he has consistently delivered. His efficiency is remarkable, shooting **52% from the field, 38% from three, and 90% from the free-throw line** [B](https://bolavip.com/en/nba/thunders-shai-gilgeous-alexander-receives-bold-mvp-endorsement-after-game-7-win-over-nuggets?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiTGhDcVVZM2JQWHI5aGJLaFA5V1hwIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoiZUVTN0NMZ2gzWVZuZ1RMUHBqWUE1IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvYm9sYXZpcC5jb21cL2VuXC9uYmFcL3RodW5kZXJzLXNoYWktZ2lsZ2VvdXMtYWxleGFuZGVyLXJlY2VpdmVzLWJvbGQtbXZwLWVuZG9yc2VtZW50LWFmdGVyLWdhbWUtNy13aW4tb3Zlci1udWdnZXRzIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). These numbers not only highlight his scoring prowess but also his ability to control the game’s tempo.
Beyond the stats, Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership has been instrumental in OKC’s success. His teammates recognize his greatness, with rookie Chet Holmgren boldly declaring, “You know who this is? The MVP” after their Game 7 triumph [B](https://bolavip.com/en/nba/thunders-shai-gilgeous-alexander-receives-bold-mvp-endorsement-after-game-7-win-over-nuggets?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9ib2xhdmlwLmNvbVwvZW5cL25iYVwvdGh1bmRlcnMtc2hhaS1naWxnZW91cy1hbGV4YW5kZXItcmVjZWl2ZXMtYm9sZC1tdnAtZW5kb3JzZW1lbnQtYWZ0ZXItZ2FtZS03LXdpbi1vdmVyLW51Z2dldHMiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiTGhDcVVZM2JQWHI5aGJLaFA5V1hwIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoiZUVTN0NMZ2gzWVZuZ1RMUHBqWUE1In0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). While the official MVP award is based on regular-season performance, Gilgeous-Alexander’s playoff dominance has made a compelling case for his status as the league’s best player.
His impact extends beyond scoring. Defensively, he has been a force, averaging **1.5 steals per game** while taking on the toughest assignments
