OKC Thunder: Mark Daigneault Confirms Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘Not 100%’

Oklahoma City Thunder bench boss Mark Daigneault confirmed that star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not at full strength.

Mar 26, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) / Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder sit at 50-21 after securing a big road win in New Orleans over the Pelicans on Tuesday. This marks the eighth 50-win season in Oklahoma City, tied for the most in the NBA in the last 15 seasons.

A large part of the Thunder's second straight season with a massive win total leap, going from two games below .500 to a 50-win season with 11 games to play, is the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander arrived onto the scene Nationally earning his first All-Star nod and getting tabbed as a first-team All-NBA player. This season, when many did not think he could kick it up another gear, he became an All-Star starter and is vying for the Most Valuable Player Award, at worst considered the runner up.

However, over the last five games, Gilgeous-Alexander has not quite looked like himself. From the numbers to him hobbling on the court, sometimes has seemed off about the Thunder superstar. Mark Daigneault updated the media on his status following Tuesday's game against New Orleans.

“He’s banged up, for sure. He’s not 100%. We’re monitoring it, but he’s certainly not a hundred percent. I’ll let him speak on it," the Thunder bench boss said.

“He’s banged up, for sure. He’s not 100%. We’re monitoring it, but he’s certainly not a hundred percent. I’ll let him speak on it.”

- Mark Daigneault on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

— Ross Lovelace (@Rosslovelace) March 27, 2024

After his 24 point, five rebound and eight assist effort against the Pelicans, Gilgeous-Alexander met with the media in New Orleans to give an update on his overall health.

"Little banged up in my quad. Since the Utah game," Gilgeous-Alexander said, "Just take it day by day, see how I feel when I wake up."

“Yeah, little banged up in my quad. Happened in the Utah game.”

- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expands on what Mark Daigneault said pic.twitter.com/eCpJnr2m3n

— Ross Lovelace (@Rosslovelace) March 27, 2024

The Thunder will have a quick turnover, hosting the Houston Rockets on Wednesday inside the Paycom Center. It is unclear what the superstar's status will be for that matchup as he tries to manage his health down the stretch of the regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander has officially tabbed himself as day-to-day, but aren't we all?

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