Those who first heard Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander’s quote in March of 2024 about his “whole life being consistent” were likely impressed by his latest success in going viral through a verbal. Within it, though, lies a vein of symbolic truth: since catapulting into superstardom, night-by-night two-way excellence has been the calling card that made Oklahoma City’s small market superstar a top-of-the-league draw. On January 22, 2025, with the Utah Jazz embracing their status as 15.5-point underdogs, an average day’s work and a 30-point showcase wouldn’t suffice; as the statsheet showed, the league’s Most Valuable Player frontrunner had no complaints. Until scoreboard separation could be found, Gilgeous-Alexander created it on-court, as he ran through a catalog of behind-the-back dribbles, stepbacks, pull-ups, and breakaways in transition, alongside his normal assortment of versatile contributions defensively. Humbly calling it “nothing special,” and “just a few more points than usual,” Gilgeous-Alexander’s finish encouraged 54 points — a career-best — alongside eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, two blocks, and three 3-pointers. Alongside securing the Oklahoma City Thunder’s win, Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring output became NBA history’s most in a single game by a Canadian-born talent. · Jan 23, 2025