Five games into the season, it's safe to say the OKC Thunder's 2026-27 campaign is not going as expected. The orange and blue are dealing with a laundry list of injuries, headlined by long-term absences by Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.
With a myriad of elite ball-stoppers out, other members of the group, namely Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have been called upon to do more on the defensive end. SGA has been taking on tougher matchups, and it might be hindering his greatest asset.
On Wednesday, the Thunder lost handily to the Dallas Mavericks. For much of the night, Gilgeous-Alexander was tasked with point-of-attack duties, manning up against Kyrie Irving. He performed well, as the opposing point guard sank just 6 of 14 shot attempts and scored 15 points. But whether or not it was worth it is a different conversation entirely.
Shai, in his own right, scored just 21 points, a far cry from his nightly 30-piece fans have grown accustomed to over the past few years. His current 26.0 points per game would be his lowest since 2021-22. It begs the question as to whether or not his extra effort on the defensive end is affecting his best attribute: the ability to get a bucket at any time.
SGA is used to Thunder over-relying on him, but this season might be different
This season is hardly the first time Oklahoma City has been forced to rely heavily on their superstar. All of last year, injuries forced a consolidation of points, and the team grew awfully one-dimensional because of it.
Last year, though, Shai responded with his most efficient season to date and averaged 31.1 points in the process. His efforts earned him back-to-back MVP honors. If his current numbers stay where they are this year, he won't even be mentioned in the conversation.
The scorer has faced a ton of defensive pressure through the first five games, but that is nothing new for a player who faced the second-most double teams last season. Something is different, whether it's his added defensive responsibilities, less talent around him, or a simple shooting slump.
Hopefully, SGA can regain his form of old, as the Thunder desperately need him to play like a top-three player in the NBA. If not, Mark Daigneault's squad could find themselves in unfamiliar territory, fighting for seeding in the late-season playoff race.
Chet Holmgren will presumably be back soon, but the status of both Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace is unknown. If Shai truly is fatigued from the extra defensive expectations, he will only grow more tiresome as the season progresses.
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