Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been easily the best player in the NBA this season, and the NBA noticed. The Canadian-born point guard has been at the center of the success that the Oklahoma City Thunder has found this year. With the Thunder making it to the conference playoffs, NBA fans and pundits could not deny the impact that Gilgeous-Alexander has had, not just on the Thunder but the NBA as a whole. The finalists this year included two other international players, namely Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Shai was to be the easy choice as he is now the Kia NBA MVP for this season.
How has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gotten to this point in his career?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night. He would then be traded by the Clippers to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Paul George, something that the Clippers probably regret after recent performances.
In his first year with the Thunder, he was the leading scorer in a team that boasted previous stars like Paul George and Russel Westbrook. His performances slowly improved as he concentrated on his work ethic and improving his game overall. His first real breakout season came in 2023, when he finished fourth in the league in scoring with 31.4 points per game.
It was then that he received a nod from the NBA to take part in the NBA All-Star game, and his performances only got better. The Thunder became one of the best-performing teams in the NBA under his leadership. The team was able to build a culture of hard work and a sense of camaraderie with Shai as their leader. He was well on his way to receiving the MVP title after the Thunder’s playoff run this year, which is still happening.
How did Gilgeous-Alexander beat the likes of Jokić and Antetokounmpo for the MVP award?
While both Jokić and Antetokounmpo have won the MVP award already, this year is Gilgeous-Alexander’s time to shine. Giannis Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20, while Nikola Jokić won three MVP awards in 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24. The success of their teams was no doubt a deciding factor in those MVP awards for both players, and Gilgeous-Alexander has his team to thank as well.
In his acceptance speech, he credited winning the MVP award to his teammates and coaching staff, claiming that he would not be able to achieve this milestone without them. He even went so far as to buy his teammates Rolex watches to wear to the event. His abilities on the court this year have been head and shoulders above any other player’s.
Many former players have made their opinion on Shai and the Thunder clear, they are easily the favorites to claim the ultimate prize this year. Gilgeous-Alexander has maintained that above all else, he values winning more than anything. The MVP award is coveted, but Gilgeous-Alexander has stated that it is “just another win” on the way to his real goal of an NBA Championship.
Is this really “just another win” for Gilgeous-Alexander or the peak of his career?
The answer to that depends on the outcome of the playoffs this year. With the Playoffs in full swing, Gilgeous-Alexander is leading his team (so far) towards that elusive NBA Championship ring that, without question, the Thunder has earned in the past few years. With Gilgeous-Alexander claiming this is just another step in that winning direction, the motivation that he, and indeed the Thunder, have now that they have an MVP on their side is mounting for sure. Will they go all the way and finally get that title? At least we won’t have to wait long to find out.
