Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made waves when he dropped 54 points – his first 50-point game in his NBA career – during the Thunder’s 123-114 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday, Jan.24

But the All-Star guard revealed it wasn’t the first instance that he had ever scored 50 points or more in a game, recalling his time playing with a Filipino community basketball league in Hamilton, Canada when he was still a teenager.

“I think I have scored 50 I think in PBA, a Filipino basketball league back home when I was like 15 maybe or 14 but that was the last time, nothing came close since then,” said Gilgeous-Alexander when asked by a reporter if he ever had scored 50 during high school or in the past.

The Thunder star was referring to the Philippine Basketball Association in Hamilton where he played alongside Filipino teenagers in an under-16 league.

A photo of then-teenage Gilgeous-Alexander posing alongside his Filipino teammates even already made rounds on Instagram after the Thunder star’s post-game interview got shared amongst the basketball community in the country.

With Gilgeous-Alexander’s latest feat, he now has set the highest single-game scoring record by a Canadian in NBA history which was first set by Jamal Murray after scoring 50 back in 2021.

He also surpassed his previous career-high of 45 points which he accomplished twice this season. Gilgeous-Alexander attempted a career-high 35 shots, making 17 of it while also going 17-of-18 from the foul line.

He also had eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.