Shai Gilgeous-Alexander breaks silence on in-game break-in at family home
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's home was broken into last week while he was in action for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the reigning MVP confirmed he was "happy" despite the news
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander insisted his family is “safe” following the break-in at his home last week.
Last week, Gilgeous-Alexander’s home was reportedly burgled while the reigning MVP was playing in the Thunder’s 127-108 win over the Washington Wizards at Paycom Center. The guard scored a game-high 31 points in the win, adding seven assists and three rebounds to continue his remarkable start to the season.
However, while he was playing, Gilgeous-Alexander’s home was broken into. The burglary was reported around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday and is the latest of a series of burglaries involving sports players over the last two years.
The recent sports star crime wave has affected the NFL’s Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Joe Burrow, as well as the NBA’s Luka Doncic and the NHL’s Evgeni Malkin. Authorities have previously alerted sports leagues about these crimes, noting that thieves often strike on game days when they know the players will be away from their homes.
Asked about the burglary following the Thunder’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, Gilgeous-Alexander — who dropped 30 points as the NBA champions moved to 7-0 — said: “Long story short, everybody's safe, and that's all that really matters in the whole thing.
“Everything else will come and go, but my loved ones are safe, so I'm OK. I'm happy.”
Police in the small enclave of Nichols Hills did not release new information about the break-in over the weekend. Authorities did not confirm whether anyone was home at the time of the break-in or whether anything was taken from the home.
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Following news of the burglary, police released a statement which read: “The suspects fled the area prior to police arrival. While no arrests have been made, there is no reason to believe the public is in any danger.”
Late last year, Kelce and Mahomes had their homes compromised by thieves while they were focusing on a Monday Night Football clash with the New Orleans Saints. Items of huge sentimental and financial value were taken.
Mahomes' mansion in Belton, Missouri, was ransacked shortly after midnight on Oct. 6, 2024, with Kelce's home in Leawood, Kansas City, targeted the following day at around 7 p.m. Thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, jerseys, and trophies were nabbed from Mahomes' house, while Kelce lost more than $100,000 in jewelry. The four-time All-Pro tight end also had his first Super Bowl jersey stolen.
According to reports, the perpetrators of these burglaries have been "non-confrontational", instead conducting extensive surveillance and breaking into homes when unoccupied. The NFL sent out a memo urging players not to post their locations on social media in real-time and advising them to install security systems, store their valuables out of sight, and keep them under lock and key.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder are next in action against the 3-2 LA Clippers on Tuesday, Nov. 4.