Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder star, is commonly referred to by initials, SGA. You can also call him MVP – not only of the 2024-25 regular season but now of the 2025 NBA Finals, too.
A fluid, 6-foot-6 guard, Gilgeous-Alexander became the first Canadian to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award after leading the Thunder past the Indiana Pacers for the franchise’s first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and added a playoff career-high 12 assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 103-91 win in Game 7 on Sunday, June 22.
Wearing Classic 6 Stitch Braids and a look of utter confidence, Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, was unmistakable and almost unstoppable during the series.
‘So much weight off my shoulders. So much stress relieved,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said. ‘No matter what, you go into every night wanting to win. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. … So proud of this group. Wouldn’t want to do it with any other group in the world. Feels good to be a champion.’
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Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals and shot 44.3% from the field in the Finals. That made him the clear pick for Finals MVP honors, and he put his name in elite company.
Gilgeous-Alexander became just the third player in NBA history and the first since 2000 to win league MVP, Finals MVP and the scoring title in the same season, joining legends Michael Jordan, who accomplished the feat four times (1990-91, ’91-92, ’95-96, ’97-98), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71) and Shaquille O’Neal (1999-2000).
He became the 11th player in NBA history to win the league MVP and Finals MVP in the same season, joining Willis Reed (1969-70), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71), Moses Malone (1982-83), Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86), Magic Johnson (1986-87), Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98), Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94), Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00), Tim Duncan (2002-03) and LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13).
Celebrate With Championship Prints
‘it’s hard to believe that I’m part of that group. It’s hard to even fathom that I’m that type of basketball player sometimes,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said. ‘As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don’t ever really know if it’s going to come true. I’m just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. That’s a ‘thank you’ to everyone that’s been in my corner that helped me get there. Wouldn’t have been able to get here without them. They know who they are. It’s a win for the family.’
MOST VALUABLE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins first NBA MVP award
The road to MVP status began in 2018. Gilgeous-Alexander was drafted 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and traded that same night to the Los Angeles Clippers. After making the All-Rookie Second Team, he traded to Oklahoma City, and that’s where he blossomed.
This season, his seventh in the league, Gilgeous-Alexander has gone from very good to great. He led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game and total points (2,484), made his third All-Star Game and was named to the All-NBA First Team for the third time.
He scored at least 30 points in 15 of 23 playoff games, including 40 against Minnesota in the Western Conference finals and four games with 30 or more in the Finals.
‘All the achievements and accolades and things, they don’t even come close to the satisfaction of winning with your brothers and people that you are so close to and want to succeed just as much as you want yourself to succeed,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said. ‘That’s been the most impressive and fun part of it, just to know that I have 15 brothers that I just experienced a once-in-a-lifetime experience with. I’ll never forget them, they’ll never forget me.’
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