What hasn't been said about OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at this point? After all, he is the reigning NBA MVP for good reason, leads in a calm yet reliable manner, scores at a high level, makes things easier for his teammates, and, most importantly, is simply a winning basketball player.
One specific element of his game often gets overlooked, though.
While many star guards who deal with intense defensive pressure struggle in the turnover department, Shai happens to be one of the best when it comes to taking care of the ball.
Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged just 2.3 turnovers per outing for his entire career. As of this story's writing, the Thunder star is averaging 2.1 turnovers per contest. According to Basketball Reference, SGA is currently turning in a career-best 7.5 turnover percentage.
Shai is doing what most MVPs don’t
Why are Gilgeous-Alexander's turnover marks especially impressive, though? Admittedly, there are players with better turnover numbers. The reality of the situation is that many MVP-caliber guards turn the ball over quite a bit.
For example, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has coughed up the ball 3.9 times per game throughout his time in the NBA. His current 4.0 turnovers per game is the Lakers' worst mark so far in 2025-26. Luka is far from the only star guard who has endured trouble in this particular category.
Trae Young's 4.2 career turnovers per contest is the highest average of all time. Doncic's 3.9 mark is even with Russell Westbrook and Magic Johnson. Isiah Thomas is right behind them with 3.8 career turnovers per contest.
While many current and future Hall of Famers have been unable to consistently take care of the basketball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is accomplishing the feat without too much trouble. Sure, SGA does not record as many assists as some of the aforementioned players. Additionally, he plays on a better team than some of the other names mentioned.
Regardless, Gilgeous-Alexander battles no shortage of strong defensive pressure on a nightly basis. Still, he's producing far better turnover results than many other superstars. When your best player handles the ball in a reliable way, it has an undeniable effect on the entire roster. Oklahoma City's 12.3 turnovers per contest is the second-best mark in the NBA -- trailing only the Boston Celtics' 11.4 average.
Of course, OKC won the NBA Finals last year. Can you guess where they finished in turnovers per game? The Thunder led the entire league with just 11.7 turnovers per outing. Good teams don't give opponents consistent opportunities off of mistakes. They make opposing teams fight for every chance they get.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander clearly sets the tone -- and the Thunder are following his lead.