Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially been named the 2024-2025 NBA Most Valuable Player. The 26-year-old from Canada has earned the first Michael Jordan Trophy (the official name of the NBA MVP trophy) for the first time in his career. Gilgeous-Alexander has now gotten over the hump and won his first MVP after finishing second in MVP voting for the 2023-2024. Gilgeous-Alexander is the second Canadian-born player to win the NBA MVP Award. The first to win was Steve Nash during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons. He is also the third Oklahoma City Thunder player to win the award. The first two players were Kevin Durant in the 2013-2014 season. Russell Westbrook also won the NBA MVP as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2016-2017 season.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game for the 2024-2025 season. The 32.7 points per game earned Gilgeous-Alexander his first NBA Scoring Title of his career. Gilgeous-Alexander not only had tremendous numbers individually. He has also been the leading catalyst for his team and makes all of his teammates better. This showed clearly with the Thunder finishing first in the Western Conference with a 68-14 record overall. That 68-14 record was also the best in the NBA.
Gilgeous-Alexander was very reflective during his NBA speech. He expressed gratitude regarding his journey and to those who are close to him in his life. Specifically, his wife was present during his speech.
“I always thought that I could be a really good player because I had seen what putting your head down and working and controlling what you control can do for you. I made tremendous strides, but I never thought this was going to happen. I dreamt about it as a kid, but as a kid, it’s a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it’s hard not to freak out. It’s hard not to be a 6-year-old kid again. And I think that’s what’s allowed me to achieve it. I tried to just not focus on it and just worry about what’s gotten to this place.”
Gilgeous-Alexander will be getting right back to work as his Thunder team continues their quest to their first NBA title. The Thunder are currently up 1-0 on the Minnnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. Game 2 is Thursday, 5/22 in Oklahoma City. Tip-off will take place at 8:30 P.M. Eastern/7:30 P.M. Central.
