Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is no stranger to career firsts. The latest for the 23-year-old Hamilton native was making Canadian NBA history at home in front of family and friends. The fourth-year Oklahoma City Thunder guard led the Thunder to a thrilling 110-109 victory against the Toronto Raptors with 26 points and nine assists on Wednesday, becoming the first Canadian in history to top the 26-point threshold twice in a game played in Toronto.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s last game at Scotiabank Arena came in December 2019, prior to the Raptors spending the 2020-21 season in Tampa Bay. In that 98-97 road win over the Raptors, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, including the final two points of the game with 36 seconds remaining. On Wednesday, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who drove into the paint and drew the defence to him before kicking the ball out to an open Mike Muscala to hit the game-winning three-pointer.

“Shai had a great game tonight, Lu too,” Muscala told Thunder team reporter Nick Gallo. “It felt good. Shai’s been so good all season long, getting in the paint, finding guys. He was patient in there. Iit was a heck of a pass.”

Prior to finding Muscala, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who tied the game at 107 all on a pair of free throws with 34.3 seconds remaining.

The Thunder point guard extraordinaire is averaging 21.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steals through 21 games for the Thunder this season. Drafted 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, Gilgeous-Alexander spent his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers, before being traded to the Thunder in a deal that sent Paul George to L.A. during the 2019 offseason.

Gilgeous-Alexander has thrived with the added responsibility of being the face of the franchise in OKC.

“He’s got a great blend of iron-clad self confidence,” Thunder head coach Mark Daginault told reporters in Toronto. “He’s incredibly confident in his own skin, as a person. He’s not looking left and right for how to act or how to think. He’s his own man, but he also balances that with great humility.”

Though still just 23 years-old, Gilgeous-Alexander’s natural leadership extends well beyond his point guard duties on court.

“The energy that he brings to any interaction, or to any room, is just incredibly authentic. There’s a ton of integrity to it. He’s just a rock-solid person. He is who he is. There’s a lot of people like that and there can be an air of arrogance about them and he’s got no pretence.”

Gilgeous-Alexander was assisted by fellow Canadian Lu Dort on Wednesday as Dort added 22 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win.

“As a kid, it’s [every] Canadian’s dream to play here,” Dort said after the game.

When he isn’t scoring a career-high 42 points, recording a triple-double, or drilling the game-winning shot in the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander proudly reps Canada. Getting to have another huge performance in his hometown, in front of a packed and fired up Scotiabank Arena crowd was special.

“It was electric,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the atmosphere in the arena. “It has been every time I play here.”

Gilgeous-Alexander represented Canada in international competition in the 2016 Americas U-18 Championship where the Canadians won a silver medal. He also played for the Senior Men’s National Team at the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila.