After weeks of anticipation, this year’s NBA MVP was finally revealed in a major announcement on social media. Just as the community speculated, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the award for the first time in his young career.
Shai, 26, began his journey at Kentucky, where he became a lottery pick for his scoring and ball-handling abilities. Following a promising rookie campaign with the Clippers, SGA was traded to the Thunder in 2019, where he developed into one of the best players in the world.
The 2024-25 campaign was the third straight All-Star season for Shai, and while he’s been in the MVP mix before, this season was arguably the best of his entire career. In 76 games, he led the Thunder to 68 wins while averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 51.9% shooting. He led the league in points, plus/minus, 30-point games, 40-point games, and 50-point games.
After winning the MVP in 2024, Nikola Jokic was on track to win it again (it would have been his fourth) early in the season, but continued success from the Thunder put Shai at the top of the ballot. On social media, fans mostly agreed with the decision as it was something they’ve been coming to expect.
“I’m proud of you, Shai, you completely deserved MVP. We’ve witnessed one of the best guard seasons in NBA history,” wrote a Thunder fan on X. “Thank you for being my franchise player, we won’t take this for granted at all.”
The best part about this win for Shai is that the Thunder are still in the mix, meaning that he can follow this up by leading his team to the championship to conclude one of the greatest seasons ever.
“If OKC Thunder wins the championship this year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the scoring champ, MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP, and NBA Finals MVP on a 68-win team,” noted one fan in awe. “Would be one of the craziest achievements in history.”
As many fans noted, Shai had an unlikely path to stardom. He began as a starter-level guard for the Thunder but slowly elevated to become the face of their franchise and the best shooting guard in the entire NBA. Plus, at 26 years old, many fans feel that the best is yet to come for SGA.
“One of the craziest career arcs ever. From solid rookie/trade piece, to high-quality starter, to all-star caliber with no recognition, skyrocketing to perennial first team all-NBA, to the league’s MVP,” wrote a fan on X. “Shai lapped the field in two years. And the best is yet to come.”
It’s no secret that Shai’s success is connected to his ability to draw fouls, and his playstyle can only be described as controversial. During this playoff run, several teams have complained about Shai’s free-throw shooting, but it hasn’t made a difference so far.
After winning Game 1 against the Timberwolves, the Thunder are now just three wins away from the Finals, and Shai will be fighting with everything he has to ensure his team is the last one standing. As the NBA’s reigning MVP, Shai must play to a higher standard now, and he’ll be facing more pressure than ever to find success in Oklahoma City and add a Larry O’Brien trophy to his NBA resume.
