SGA, Brunson Join LeBron & MJ 🔥Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson have 10 30+ point, 5+ assist games these Playoffs, joining LeBron James (3x) and Michael Jordan (3x) as the only players with 10 or more such games in a single postseason!

The 2025 NBA Playoffs have delivered plenty of drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments—but perhaps no storyline has been more electrifying than the rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson. With each game, the two dynamic guards have not only led their respective teams deep into the postseason but etched their names alongside the greatest legends in basketball history.

With 10 games apiece of 30 or more points and at least 5 assists, SGA and Brunson now share elite company: only LeBron James and Michael Jordan have reached this mark in a single postseason—and they each did it three times. That’s it. That’s the list. Let that sink in.

Rising to the Moment

The Playoffs are a different beast. The pressure mounts, the lights shine brighter, and the margin for error vanishes. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson, the 2025 postseason has been the perfect proving ground. Each game has been a showcase of skill, composure, leadership, and relentless will.

SGA, the calm, calculated superstar from the Oklahoma City Thunder, has looked every bit like the best player on the floor—no matter the opponent. His smooth midrange game, ability to get to the line, and surgical playmaking have made him nearly impossible to guard. Night after night, he’s taken on the responsibility of carrying the Thunder offense, and he’s done it with poise and precision.

Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson has become the heart and soul of the New York Knicks. From his Villanova days to his time in Dallas, many always believed in his potential—but few expected this. In these playoffs, Brunson has transformed into a true alpha: attacking relentlessly, finishing through contact, and making clutch play after clutch play. His blend of footwork, strength, and unshakable confidence has turned Madison Square Garden into a nightly madhouse.

The Company They Keep

To understand the magnitude of what SGA and Brunson have done, you have to look at the names they’ve joined: LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

MJ—widely considered the greatest player of all time—hit the 10-game 30+ points/5+ assists mark three times in his playoff career (1989, 1990, 1992). LeBron, who many argue is Jordan’s only true peer in NBA history, also accomplished it in three separate postseasons (2018, 2009, 2015). These were some of the most dominant playoff runs ever seen—featuring Finals appearances, unforgettable game-winners, and iconic performances.

Now, SGA and Brunson are in that same club. Not just with one freak performance. Not just by riding a hot streak. But by consistently delivering under the pressure of the postseason grind.

And while Jordan and LeBron each had a supporting cast that varied in talent over their playoff runs, what makes SGA and Brunson’s accomplishment particularly impressive is how much offensive burden they’ve shouldered. In many cases, they’ve had to be great for their teams to survive. And they’ve responded.

More Than Stats

Yes, the stat is incredible—but it doesn’t fully capture the context. Each of these 10 games wasn’t just a box score boost. They were moments that shifted momentum in a series. Clutch buckets in the fourth quarter. Assists that led to dagger threes. They were masterclasses in leadership, and they’ve put the basketball world on notice.

For SGA, it’s a culmination of steady growth into superstardom. After years of developing his game, he’s become a two-way force with an old-school feel—drawing comparisons to Clyde Drexler with a bit of James Harden flair. His performances this postseason have silenced any remaining doubters. He’s not the next big thing—he is the big thing.

For Brunson, the narrative is even sweeter. He was overlooked in the draft, overshadowed early in his career, and questioned as the Knicks’ big free-agent signing. Now? He’s one of the top guards in the league, a legitimate franchise cornerstone, and the pulse of New York basketball.

Legacy in the Making

Joining Jordan and LeBron in any postseason stat is special. But doing so in the heat of a deep playoff run, while leading your team, elevates it to another level.

The 30+ point, 5+ assist benchmark isn’t just about volume scoring—it’s about offensive command. It means you’re the engine, the closer, the decision-maker, and the heart of your team’s identity. It’s what separates stars from superstars.

Both SGA and Brunson are writing their legacies right now—not in the future, not in theory, but today. And what they’ve done in these playoffs ensures that history will remember this postseason as their official arrival.

Whether or not either one goes on to win a title this year, their names are forever etched in a stat line shared only with #23 and #6. That alone tells you everything you need to know.

Final Thoughts

Basketball fans are witnessing something rare. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson aren’t just having great playoff runs—they’re creating history. The fact that they’ve joined LeBron James and Michael Jordan in such elite statistical territory speaks volumes not just about their skill, but about their consistency, leadership, and resilience.

In a league filled with talent, breaking through to this level takes more than highlights. It takes heart. And both SGA and Brunson have shown they’ve got plenty of it.