Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps 100 with “better” score amid OKC’s 7-0 start

Oklahoma. and home – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder tied his best start in franchise history with a 7-0 start to the 2025-26 campaign. After the win, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t hold back on how attached he is to the defending champion despite extending his undefeated record without All-Star Jalen Williams, who has yet to make his regular season debut, and Chet Holmgren missed the Thunder’s three home games.

For Gilgeous-Alexander, see a huge improvement from last year’s Thunder team, which currently holds the record for the best start in franchise history.

“It feels like we’re a better team. Honestly, it’s like we’ve had a year to get better,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The staff hasn’t changed much from a couple of starters. From the beginning of last year, we had a year to get better, to learn each other on and off the field, and it seems like we’ve had the advantage of that this season. And honestly, we’re dealing with some injuries early in the year.

“But because we’ve gotten better, 1-15, guys in the locker room, we’re able to plug in and play, and figure it out on the fly, we’re still having good results. We’re definitely a better team than we were a year ago.”

Gilgeous-Alexander points to the Thunder’s ability to close games as a testament to his growth.

“We just understand what it takes to win. We had to do that to win an NBA championship. We had to learn and go through the ups and downs and figure out how to win as we go along,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Being down, being up, learning how to close. And then also, just playing winning basketball, and getting better at shooting; winning possessions to get better. So every time we go on the floor, I feel like we’re taking a step forward.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Thunder’s 7-0 start: “We’re dealing with some injuries early in the year. But since we’ve gone 1-15, we can plug in and play and figure it out as we go…

“We are definitely a better team than we were a year ago” pic.twitter.com/akKs17G3Ict

— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) November 3, 2025

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored 30+ points through three quarters in three straight games, led the Thunder with 30 points on 5-of-14 shooting and seven assists. He was one of eight Thunder players in double figures, including Oklahoma City’s entire starting lineup, including Aaron Wiggins (15 points), Kason Wallace (13 points, five steals), Jaylin Williams (12 points) and Isaiah Hartenstein (10 points, 14 rebounds).

Isaiah Joe (13 points), Branden Carlson (11 points) and Ajay Mitchell (10 points) led the second unit with a combined 34 points off the bench.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s revelation about the Thunder star

Sophomore guard Ajay Mitchell’s appearance in the Thunder’s second unit was one of the bigger stories for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who gave Mitchell a well-deserved flower amid such an impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign.

“He competes and wants to go out and play. We’ve seen that since the beginning of the season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He stepped into a big role. He was like a second ball handler for us. He was huge.”

The Thunder will take their franchise record to 8-0 when they take on the Clippers on the road on Tuesday.