In the 2024-25 NBA season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a dominant force, leading the league with 32.7 points per game and earning the MVP award. His stellar performance has propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league-best 68-14 record and a spot in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
As the Finals unfold, Gilgeous-Alexander stands on the cusp of joining an exclusive club of NBA legends who’ve won the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season, a rare trifecta that truly shows a player’s complete dominance throughout the year.
With the Thunder favored to win and Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, basketball fans are witnessing a potentially historic season. Let’s go through the seasons where this historical season was achieved, because it has only happened six times in NBA history.
1971 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Regular-Season Stats: 31.7 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 3.3 APG
NBA Finals Stats: 27.0 PPG, 18.5 RPG, 2.8 APG
In the 1970-71 season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) dominated the league, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 66-16 record. His exceptional performance earned him the NBA MVP award, and he also secured the scoring title with an average of 31.7 points per game.
During the NBA Finals, Abdul-Jabbar continued his dominance, averaging 27.0 points and 18.5 rebounds per game, leading the Bucks to a 4-0 sweep over the Baltimore Bullets. His outstanding play earned him the Finals MVP award, making him the first player in NBA history to win the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season.
1991 – Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 31.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 31.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 11.4 APG, 2.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG
The 1990-91 season marked a turning point for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Jordan’s stellar play earned him the NBA MVP award, and he led the league in scoring with 31.5 points per game. The Bulls finished the regular season with a 61-21 record, setting the stage for a deep playoff run.
In the NBA Finals, Jordan faced off against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. He elevated his game, averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game. The Bulls defeated the Lakers in five games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, completing the trifecta of MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in a single season.
1992 – Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 35.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Building on the success of the previous season, Michael Jordan continued to dominate in 1991-92. He secured his second consecutive MVP award and led the league in scoring with 30.1 points per game. The Bulls once again finished the regular season with a strong record, positioning themselves as championship contenders.
In the NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, Jordan delivered one of his most memorable performances, averaging 35.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. The Bulls won the series in six games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, achieving the rare feat of winning the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season for the second consecutive year.
1996 – Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
After a brief retirement, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA with a vengeance in the 1995-96 season. He led the Bulls to a then-record 72-10 regular-season record, earning his fourth MVP award and leading the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game.
In the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics, Jordan averaged 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. The Bulls won the series in six games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, marking the third time he achieved the trifecta of MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in a single season.
1998 – Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 28.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 33.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG
In what would be his final season with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan once again led the league in scoring with 28.7 points per game and secured his fifth MVP award. The Bulls finished the regular season with a 62-20 record, setting the stage for another championship run.
Facing the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals, Jordan delivered a masterful performance, averaging 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Bulls won the series in six games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, achieving the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP trifecta for the fourth time in his illustrious career.
2000 – Shaquille O’Neal
Regular-Season Stats: 29.7 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 3.0 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 38.0 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.7 BPG
Shaquille O’Neal’s 1999-2000 season was one of the most dominant in NBA history. He led the league in scoring with 29.7 points per game, secured the MVP award, and guided the Los Angeles Lakers to a 67-15 regular-season record.
In the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, O’Neal was unstoppable, averaging 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Lakers won the series in six games, and O’Neal was named Finals MVP, joining the exclusive club of players who have won the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Can Be The First Player In 25 Years To Join This Prestigious Club
As the 2025 NBA Finals unfold, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands on the brink of etching his name into basketball lore. Having already secured the regular season MVP and the scoring title with an impressive 32.7 points per game, he now eyes the Finals MVP to complete a trifecta achieved by only three NBA legends who happened to be the most dominant in history.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s postseason performance has been nothing short of stellar. Averaging 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he earned the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award.
Now, as the Thunder face the Indiana Pacers in the Finals, he is the clear favorite to clinch the Finals MVP, with odds at -600. Should he succeed, Gilgeous-Alexander would not only join an elite club but also solidify his status as one of the game’s greats, delivering Oklahoma City its first championship since the franchise’s relocation.
