Artificial intelligence may have access to decades of NBA statistics, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apparently has a pretty reliable database of his own.
Following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 113-112 NBA Cup loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, the two-time reigning MVP found himself correcting a reporter who had relied on artificial intelligence to research a statistical anomaly.
During the postgame press conference, the reporter suggested that Gilgeous-Alexander had gone without an assist in the first half for the first time in his NBA career.
The Thunder superstar immediately challenged the premise.
“That’s a false stat,” Gilgeous-Alexander responded. “Game 4 against Indiana [in the 2025 NBA Finals], I didn’t have an assist the whole game.”
The reporter subsequently admitted that the information had come from an AI-powered search, humorously adding,
“Don’t trust AI.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fact-checking an LA reporter who used AI search results to get an incorrect stat lmao https://t.co/B4wZbSFv7B
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) November 14, 2026
A glance at the official NBA archives confirms that Gilgeous-Alexander’s memory was spot on. On June 13, 2025, he recorded 35 points, three rebounds and zero assists in Oklahoma City’s pivotal 111-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Moreover, Gilgeous-Alexander had gone without a first-half assist just two days earlier against the Portland Trail Blazers, making the reporter’s claim even more inaccurate.
Against the Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander eventually finished with 40 points, five assists and four rebounds, although his potential game-winning jumper missed at the buzzer, handing the Thunder their third consecutive defeat.
Beyond the amusing exchange, the incident serves as a timely cautionary tale for modern sports journalism. In an industry increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence, instant access to information should never come at the expense of accuracy. AI can be a tremendously useful research tool, but it cannot replace independent verification or editorial responsibility.
