Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who entered the NBA as a rookie point guard just seven years ago, quickly established himself, securing a starting role after just 10 games. Initially, he faced challenges off the court, notably earning his driver’s license while relying on teammates and Uber for transportation during his rookie season with the Clippers. After a trade to Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander began his journey with a rebuilding Thunder team that struggled significantly over two seasons. However, this year marked a turning point as he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) following an outstanding season.
He excelled with a league-leading average of 32.7 points, 7.9 free-throw attempts, and 21.8 shot attempts per game, leading Oklahoma City to a franchise-record 68 wins and securing the top seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive year. In the MVP voting, Gilgeous-Alexander received 71 first-place votes and a total of 913 points, significantly ahead of second-place Nikola Jokic, who had 787 points. Other notable MVP candidates included Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell.
As the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, Gilgeous-Alexander solidified his place among the NBA greats. He joins Steve Nash as the only Canadian MVP winners and contributes to a trend of international players dominating the MVP award in recent years. His performance has garnered respect from peers, with Jokic highlighting his shot selection, defensive skills, and overall talent, affirming Gilgeous-Alexander as a “special player.”
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