Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed a side of himself that we rarely see during Tuesday’s game.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder were victorious over the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. The final score was not at all close (119-98) as the Thunder got their first win over the Spurs in four tries this season.
During one sequence in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander hit a three-pointer over the outstretched arm of San Antonio’s Stephon Castle to give the Thunder an 18-point lead. As he was going back up the floor, Gilgeous-Alexander hit Castle with an extremely profane taunt.
“Hoe a– n—a,” Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to say in Castle’s direction. Here is the video.
Shai hit a jumper over Stephon Castle and was talking crazy.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) January 14, 2026
Yessir kid pic.twitter.com/jC2VekMwOO
The reigning NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander finished Tuesday’s game with a team-leading 34 points on 11/23 shooting (also adding five rebounds, five assists, and four blocks). With Nikola Jokic currently sidelined with a knee injury, Gilgeous-Alexander is once again looking like the frontrunner to win MVP this season.
Tuesday’s victory over the Spurs also had to feel very cathartic for the 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander. For one, Oklahoma City was able to put to rest all the memes that resulted when San Antonio beat them three times earlier this season within a 12-day span.
