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 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.
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 the 11th player in NBA history to win the league MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.
The last player to accomplish the double-MVP was LeBron James when he did it in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013, during his Miami Heat days.
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 Gae and was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time.
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