Thunder are self-creating scary Shai Gilgeous-Alexander problem fans never saw coming

The Oklahoma City Thunder have significantly increased their reliance on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for offensive production early in the 2025-26 season, with his usage rate rising to 38.8%—second only to Giannis Antetokounmpo—and his minutes averaging 46.3 per game, totaling 93 minutes so far. This heavy workload is particularly concerning given his recent demanding playoff run and short offseason, raising potential risks for his health and performance sustainability.

The team's dependency is partly due to Jalen Williams' ongoing recovery from wrist surgery, leaving Gilgeous-Alexander as the primary scoring option. Despite expectations for Chet Holmgren to step up as a secondary scorer, his performance has been underwhelming, exemplified by a recent game where he scored only 15 points on inefficient shooting, forcing Gilgeous-Alexander to set a career-high of 55 points in a double-overtime win.

While Gilgeous-Alexander has demonstrated the ability to excel under this heavy usage, the trend is unsustainable and risky, as excessive wear and tear has led to serious injuries for other star players in the past. The Thunder must address this over-reliance to prevent potential long-term issues as the season progresses.