After a dominant Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves that sent the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA Finals since 2012, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP trophy, but it was his dad, Vaughn Alexander, who nearly stole the show.
As the postgame celebrations unfolded, Shai gathered with family to soak in the moment. But as he posed with the hard-earned MVP trophy, he couldn’t help but notice something funny: his dad refused to let go of the award. With a sly grin, Shai turned to Vaughn and said, “You actin’ like it’s yours.”
“You acting like it’s yours.”
— Shai to his dad. 🤣🤣
(via @SportsCenter)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 29, 2025
The moment instantly went viral. Vaughn, fully embracing the playful jab, pretended to stuff the trophy under his sweatshirt and sneak away with it. Shai burst out laughing, capturing a heartwarming exchange between father and son that reminded everyone watching of the importance of family behind basketball’s biggest moments.
Vaughn’s pride was undeniable. After all, his son had just averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game in the series, leading the Thunder to a 4–1 win over Minnesota. In the clinching Game 5, SGA posted 34 points on 56 percent shooting along with eight assists and seven rebounds.
He became the third player in NBA history to record ten 30+ point, 5+ assist games in a single postseason, joining only Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Beyond his Western Conference Finals MVP, Shai is also the 2025 regular-season MVP, an honor earned with averages of 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and five rebounds per game for the 68-win Thunder.
He’s been the engine behind OKC’s remarkable transformation from a 24-win team just three seasons ago to a juggernaut with homecourt advantage in the Finals.
The WCF MVP trophy moment was also a full-circle one for the Alexander family. Shai’s father played basketball in his youth, and his mother Charmaine, competed in track at the 1992 Olympics.
The athletic lineage is undeniable and even extended to the opposing team, as SGA’s cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays for the Timberwolves.
While Vaughn may not have actually won the trophy himself, his support and presence throughout Shai’s rise to superstardom is symbolic. In that one playful moment, we saw the years of investment, sacrifice, and belief that fueled one of the NBA’s best players.
With the Finals looming on June 5 against either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are locked in.
If OKC goes on to win the championship, Vaughn may once again have trouble keeping his hands off the next piece of hardware, and this time, maybe he’ll have earned a tiny piece of it himself.
